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Parenting

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Five year old waking up too early

26 replies

chocopuffs · 25/01/2026 07:13

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 😂

OP posts:
Barrellturn · 26/01/2026 19:32

Epsom salts in the bath might help up the magnesium a bit. My terrible sleepers both got diagnosed with ADHD later though, psychologist was clear that it's one of the hallmarks.

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