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Parenting

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Original poster

If you have a toddler up at stupid o clock, what do you DO with them?!!

32 replies

PussinJimmyChoos · 20/01/2010 20:19

DS (3.5 yrs)woke at 5.30am today...granted it doesn't happen every day but its still a killer.

I was so tired and had work today so I just gave him his breakfast/drink and then I semi dozed on the sofa while he watched DVDs and wondered what other parents do when they have an earlier riser??

If you do crafts or baking with them in the early hours, then please, don't reply to this post!

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giddykipper · 20/01/2010 20:21

Drag him into bed with me and put the TV on.

Ceebee74 · 20/01/2010 20:23

Ditto Giddykipper - I have to keep him entertained otherwise he wants to go and wake up his baby bro who likes his sleep

Adair · 20/01/2010 20:28

yup, cbeebies/DVDs doze on sofa. When we had a telly in the bedroom, dd would watch too much cbeebies, while I dozed next to her.

Sadly, the 18mth is not great at watching telly and likes to drag us round to get things. Mostly noisy things. He is the sort of child that smacks you on the head with a book if you try to doze too. And he is 90% of the time awake between 5 and 6am. Oh, I love him .

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Original poster

PussinJimmyChoos · 20/01/2010 20:33

Don't you find as well that it seems HOURS until civilisation starts i.e when you can get them out and about.

Maybe there should be softplay sessions for early risers where they can play while us parents slouch on comfy chairs and down strong coffee!!

OP posts:

Adair · 20/01/2010 20:36

Yes! And yet, it seems to take us forever to actually get out once we can

We were baking at 8am this morning but it was left over from yesterday and we needed the stuff for the morning. Usually it's dd "can I do painting?"
NO it's 6.30am!

clam · 20/01/2010 20:41

Well, I guess it depends on whether you want him to get the idea that getting up early is a good thing because you get to do nice things with Mummy, like baking. I'd be as dull as hell on purpose.

Reesie · 20/01/2010 20:42

Oh dear - I'm up at 5am every morning. DD1 likes to languish in bed but dd2 at 9months is a persistant very early riser. When dd1 used to wake up early - cebeebies went on and I would doze on the sofa.

dd2 is too young so I pop some toys on the floor for her to play with and I play with her inbetween being on the laptop on the floor.

LynetteScavo · 20/01/2010 20:46

I had a contant early riser.

I always insisted I didn't "start work" untill 7am, so he'd have a couple of hours of DVD's. Some times I'd use the oportunity to clean the house. I even went to they gym, and did a Tesco's shop occationaly in the summer. But mostly I lay on the sofa while he watched TV.

MarmMummy · 20/01/2010 20:48

TV - all the way.

Incidentally, those threads where people say how much TV their DC watch always make me think about what time they wake up. So:

Slightly smug x2 20 minute sessions a day = a child that wakes after 7

An hour and a half (which is a complete lie anyway!) = child who woke before 6

choufleur · 20/01/2010 20:51

be mean and put him back into bed. 5.30am is not a good time for a 3 1/2 year old to wake up. Nor am i very nice at that time in the morning.

compo · 20/01/2010 20:54

back to bed with soem toys in his room not yours

Adair · 20/01/2010 20:55

Choufleur, I would easily put my 3.5 yr old back in bed. The 18mth old though - when he is up, he is up! He lies next to me for 45mins while I try to pretend it's 10am and then I admit defeat. Though 6am dh is up for work so I send them downstairs then if they are awake (and grab half an hour extra sleep).

nickytwotimes · 20/01/2010 20:56

Bed with toys/books or telly.

Only options at that hour ime.

2andcounting · 20/01/2010 20:56

dd2, 10months always up at about 5.30ish- has a quick bf in my bed- then once she starts wriggling around i take her in the living room put her in her leap frog standy up thing and switch on pre recorded waybaloo-while me or dh ( most of the time) go back to sleep on the sofa. jesus i am an awful mother- would never in a million years have done this with dd1! but in my defense- i am back at work full time, am 3months pregnant again (!) and dd1 loves her sleep and don't want to disturb her too

BelleDameSansMerci · 20/01/2010 20:57

I'm v impressed with those of you that can get them to go back to sleep. It's not worth the pain in this house! DD 2.4 is just starting to sleep in a bit (may need to actually set an alarm clock again at some point) but is usually up at about 6am. Thank the Lord for TV! And a sofa. And tea.

Original poster

PussinJimmyChoos · 20/01/2010 21:00

There was noooo way he was going back to bed. He was wide away and ready to party 'mummy I want to go downstairs'...had I tried it I think WW3 would have followed!

OP posts:

tattycoram · 20/01/2010 21:01

I'm so glad it's not just me. I feel awful that DS quite often goes to nursery having watched the whole of Finding Nemo or whatever but I just can;t do anything else at 6 am

gigglewitch · 20/01/2010 21:02

bore 'em. And pretend to be asleep, selectively

gigglewitch · 20/01/2010 21:03

oh, an put cbeebies on the bedroom tv

Adair · 20/01/2010 21:05

Yep, I seem to recall being on one of these threads when dd was younger going 'why don't you encourage them to play by themselves?' (as dd has done for eons), or 'just bring them back to bed with you and they'll fall asleep eventually'.

Then came whirlwind ds. And I understand why people get up at 5am. He is just Wide Awake. And impossible to leave alone without causing huge destruction/violence/damage... (well, especially if I am half asleep). When ds gets up, I am usually willing dd to get up too, so she can entertain/keep an eye on him

Caz10 · 20/01/2010 21:06

SO relieved to read this!

I used to be very anti having a TV in our room, but DH was insistent, and now that DD (2) starts every day at 5.30am I am so glad we have it! (and Sky+ so there is always something on that she will be glued to)

I wouldn't have thought before that it is possible to sleep right through 2 episodes of Balamory, but it is!

Caz10 · 20/01/2010 21:07

PS - put them back to bed - HA!!

I can sleep through Balamory, I can't sleep through screaming and shouting!

Saltire · 20/01/2010 21:11

I remember sitting in the park with DS1 one summer Sunday at 6am!

Original poster

PussinJimmyChoos · 20/01/2010 21:13

I am very relieved at all these responses...was feeling soooo bad this morning that we had watched both Wall-E AND Toy Story before he went to nursery

I guess we just have to remember that we aren't superhuman and can't be expected to jump out of bed ready to do crafts, baking etc and that there are others out there doing the same thing!

OP posts:

choufleur · 20/01/2010 21:13

but a 3 1/2 year old is old enough to understand that it is not acceptable to get up at that time. in the same way that they can understand that it is bedtime and need to go to bed.

completely agree that with a 18 month old it is difficult and i used to get up stupidly early with DS when he was younger.

I can't sleep through screaming and shouting either but i'd rather a few days of persistently putting back to bed in teh morning than getting up really early every day.

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