Five year old waking up too early

[chocopuffs]

Has anyone else been through this? I don’t think I’m really after advice, but I suppose if there’s something obvious I’m missing I’ll take it. My five year old has always been an early riser and that would be fine except she’s clearly exhausted. She has the odd week or so where she wakes up at 6.30/7 but then it’s back to 5am, and she’s tired and grumpy. She fell asleep at school recently. She goes to bed around 7.30, and no, moving her bedtime later does not help; in fact it just makes it worse. When we can get her to bed earlier that sometimes helps with a later wake up but that’s not often feasible with school/work commitments. No one seems to get it, everyone gives well meaning but unhelpful advice about putting her to bed later or maybe she’s a natural early riser. Which she probably is but she’s clearly still tired? When I tell other parents with kids the same age they are shocked she gets up so early and that we endure it, but honestly what’s the alternative? It’s not even my tiredness I care about that much, it’s that she’s not getting enough sleep. Rant over, sorry if it sounds ratty but I am tired 😂

Its horrible. My ds only did this for a year but I hated it, it means you have to go to bed so early. I suppose you can only try to get her to bed as early as possible.

Have you tried a gro clock? We use that for our 5 year old. So even if he wakes up early, we tell him he is not allowed out of bed until the clock turns yellow.

Mine have always been early risers. 5am is pretty standard. At 5 they can read though so get them in a habit of sitting reading for an hour.

Thanks, it is isn’t it? I get panicky if I’m not in bed after 9pm!

She has a Yoto with a wake up clock. She’ll stay in her bed sometimes but my issue is more that even if she’s in bed she’s still tired and grumpy.

Oh wow, my five year old can’t read properly yet. She only started school in September and can read a few words but not a full book. And as above, my issue is more that she’s tired not so much the getting up.

I really think an earlier bedtime is the best solution, she’ll still sleep till at least 5. Is there any way to rework the evening routine a bit e.g. morning bath, slow cooked dinner eaten as soon as through the door etc to allow for this?

Thanks, I think you’re right and these are helpful suggestions. I think we could probably try and get her to bed earlier and it might help reset her. I think we’re stuck in a cycle of overtiredness. I know she’s an early riser but I don’t think she’s meant to be waking up this early as she’s clearly not well rested.

Much sympathies. Our 11 year old has always been a very early riser - I can’t recall as 5am as standard, but 5.30-5.45 is his typical wake time and has been … forever. He had a gro clock when younger which gave us maybe an extra half hour but as you say it’s more about them being tired later on.
We introduced a half hour screen time at 6.45 (meant DH and I didn’t need to be up and dressed before DS) which went some way to helping - he did eventually get into the pattern of waking, and then resting in bed until it was time for his screen (which would automatically unlock at 6.45am no sooner).
I don’t think I’d want to encourage reading from 5am, I know he needs his rest so I ideally want him trying to close his eyes and dozing until 6.45. I know screen time is the work of the devil etc but this is what we have found works for us. From as young an age as 5.

You have my sympathy! I have a 4 and a half year old whose the same, I can count on one hand the number of times he woken past 6 am. I’ve tried so many different things, in the end I’ve just reluctantly realised it’s just how his body clock is. Different bed times etc make absolutely no difference in the long run.

other than going to bed early yourself I don’t have any tips I’m afraid.

Oh and as for the fact she’s still tired I feel my sons the same, he sits yawning his head off at 5.15 am but refuses any suggestions of going to sleep 🤷‍♀️

🤣 none of mine would read for an hour. That is an incredibly long time for a 5yo.

Oh dear god don’t introduce screen time that early. I think you’d be setting them up for a life time of expecting that level of stimulation first thing in the morning. I had a child who woke at 5 for about a year. It was horrendous and they grew out of it. It will pass! I second the aim of a slightly earlier bedtime. Try 7 for a few days and if that makes no difference see if you can do 6.30. Maybe try sandwiches in the car on the way home just while you’re trying to work out bedtime

Our 5 year old is the same and like you my main issue isn’t so much the early start itself, it’s that he’s then so tired and grumpy. Weekends aren’t fun at the moment as he is so tired and whiny. Miraculously I managed to get him to go back to sleep this morning, he came into us at 5.30am and I refused to get up and just said he needed to try to sleep then ignored him. Eventually he went back off and is still asleep now so clearly did need it! We also find the earlier he goes to bed the later he seems to sleep, but like you say that’s just not possible all the time and his younger brother is the opposite (goes to bed late but then sleeps in late) and they share a room so I can’t put the big one to bed before the little one.

I’d just echo the earlier bedtime. One of the parents in our school is a sleep consultant who has helped a lot of us. Ours was a different issue but basically one of her standard pieces of advice is always earlier bedtime. So I reckon start there. As others have said at least she’ll be better rested. Best of luck x

Is she physically tired ? As in is she doing enough activity to tire her out?
Is something waking her up at this time - car/motorbike.
Are there blackout blinds in her room?

I get it OP.... I posted similar a while ago and got my arse handed to me as my DD was going to bed at 7 and waking exhausted at 5... but apparently I shouldn't complain as 10 hours sleep is amazing 🤨

Anyway, she seems to be sleeping later now so it was maybe just a phase, luckily I was on mat leave so could do earlier bedtimes. We use the yoto and she just potters about her room playing/looking at books/listening to the yoto until the 'sun' comes up.

I used to leave a small pile of books by the bed even before they started school. She can still look at the pictures

This might fall into the unhelpful advice category but is she eating enough? There’s a good guide here from the Caroline Walker Trust. I was surprised at just how many calories an active DC needs

Thanks! As much as I feel for you, I’m glad we’re in the same boat!

Thanks so much for the solidarity! I was a bit nervous posting this but people have been really nice - I was feeling quite grumpy before!

I think so, even on days where she’s had loads of fresh air and exercise it’s the same. Nothing waking her up I don’t think and she has blackout blinds.

Thanks! I also wonder sometimes if she’s hungry but I feel like she eats loads…will check this out though!

Thanks everyone who’s commented with solidarity or helpful tips, I really appreciate it!

We do milk before bed sometimes if we aren't sure they've eaten enough. This can help keep them full. Hope an early night and a full tummy gives you a lie in.

good luck!
i found moving bed time earlier helped as PP suggested. it seems backwards but often earlier bedtime = slept later.

My youngest just went on the ipad until we were ready to start the day - shameful really but we they’d just be super alert from 4am for a really dreadful period. They o lot did educational apps and they slept in our room but my goodness i needed that time for my sanity