5am wake ups toddler 26 months

[AmieLam]

Hi!
Just looking for some advice.
My little one has always woken around 6am, but recently, it's turned into 5am. Can you tell me what schedule you use for your toddler around the same age? I'm wondering whether he needs to nap less (we wake him after 1 hr 30), or if he needs to go to bed later (currently 7). Thank you! Amie

Hiya, OP. We've moved your thread over to the Parenting topic now. Good luck with the 5am starts... if all else fails - coffee (you, not the DC...)

He's over 2, ditch the nap altogether!

Nap can go.

But im the barer of bad news, my 5 year old still gets up at 5.

At that age, my two napped for about an hour (occasionally skipping the nap), bedtime 8.30, up at 6, but they've always been low sleep needs. Once they could more consistently skip the nap, bedtime became 8.00 and they woke slightly later as well.

Thanks all. So I may try an hour nap first, then get rid if that doesn't work! X

My DD is 26 months and she only sleeps max 10h so for me to get her to 7am she goes to bed 9pm. She still takes a nap and definitely not ready to drop it yet.

Sleep cycles are about 45 minutes so he may be easier to wake after 40 minutes.

When mine dropped naps it was often they would have them only on the weekend for a good few weeks.

Our just turned 2 year old has pretty much dropped naps altogether, at nursery he still has one (3 days a week) but he's on a strict 40 minute cap or his nighttime sleep completely goes to shit. Drop it to 40 would be my advice, see how he gets on for a few days then cut it. He might need to odd nap here and there but if my DS was sleeping for 90 mins a day he wouldn't sleep at night; ever.

DS2 is the same age and we are dropping the nap. He doesn't nap on nursery days anymore and we give him a nap at home every 2 days a week to prevent overtiredness. He does get exhausted but it's helped him sleep better and longer at night

Yes! I've definitely noticed he's only doing around 10 hours at night now, but I really don't want a much later bedtime 🙈. I will try a shorter nap first, then maybe later bedtime if that doesn't work... ergh so stressful trying to work it all out!!!

At this age (while he was still napping) we had to put him to bed later otherwise he’d be up at 5. If your LB is waking up at 5sm seemingly rested and ready for the day (not upset or showing signs he needs more sleep) then I’d say you need to put him to bed later (or drop the nap / limit the nap further). Good luck! On Monday my 7mo woke up at 4am and woke up my 3yo. I was on my own as my OH was away and there’s no way to get them both back to sleep at the same time so we all had to get up at 4:30am. 🤦‍♀️

Ahh that's rough!
Thank you for your reply. It's just such a shock as he's never got up this early, so will try a shorter nap first. He's happy initially when he gets up, but I leave him in there and after about half an hour he's moaning to get out.

I remember the early wakes with my first were a real challenge. With the 2nd I’m somehow more relaxed about it. Maybe my spirit has been broken 😂

At least it’s light out, looking on the bright side!

DD goes to bed at 8.30pm and wakes at 7am. Naps at 1.30pm for anything between 40min-2 hours - I never wake her and I'm happy for her to nap for as long as she needs (elder child napped until she started Reception). It works for us as we like the later bedtimes - we can have a longer play time and bath with her siblings after school and DH after work.