Why is this happening and how do we stop it?

[BattyKoda]

DS1 (4yo) for the last month/couple of months or so has been waking up at 5am, regardless of what time he goes down. He wakes, plays in his room, has a wonder downstairs and sometimes goes into DS2's(12mo) room and wakes him. Soemtimes he is quiet enough not to disturb us so I have no idea what he's up to (scary) other times he's singing at the top of his voice and we're all awake and it makes for a very miserable day.

He's not getting enough sleep, he's shattered all day with bags under his eyes, has no concentration span, becomes aguementative and won't do as he is told, he's also not eating properly and is having tantrums like never before. I put all this down to his early morning's. DS2 is also a grump if he's woken early, not to mention DP.

It's terrifying me that some mornings he's up when we're fast asleep and every day seems to be a nightmare battle with him, most of the time I'm sticking the TV on for him in the afternoon because it's about all he can manage without throwing a wobbly. (I hate him being stuck in front of the tv).

Please has anyone got any suggestions for me?

clock change in a couple of weeks will help. Just start slowly moving his bedtime back by 10 mins each day a week before, and when BST kicks in he'll magically be waking up an hour later

Will that mean it will be darker in the mornings? [thick]

the clocks move forward, so 5am will become 6am so yes, It will be darker in the morning.

Works because it doesn't move their schedule, but the clocks move round them
(of course, you'll have the opposite problem in the autumn)

I'm a numpty when it comes to the clocks changing - it always confuses me!

So he goes down at 7/7.30 at the mo, when the clocks changes maybe I should set his bed time at 8/8.30 instead.

What time is a normal bedtime for a 4yo?

on the Saturday that the clocks change he should go to bed an hour later if possible (gradually make it later in the week before) and then on the morning after the clocks have changed 6am will have become 7am. Try not to let him go to bed too early that night, and then play it by ear after that.

Of course, you won't get any more sleep that weekend, but it should help in the longer term.

It worked very well with our DS last year (thank christ, he was on 4:30am wake-ups!!)

Hopefully it'll work this year too.

Riven - hope this helps you too

It's just so frustrating having to face a day of tantrums, tears and aguements all because he's woken a couple of hours early.

I talk to him about it everyday, if you wake and everyone else is asleep then try to go back to sleep, or stay in bed and read a book (how he gets to sleep at night) but he says he just wants to get up and play. Have thought about getting one of those moon/sun clocks but I doubt it will work and they cost £30!

is he waking up for another reason, maybe hunger? DS always wakes up bloody early when he's not eaten enough, but he's only 2 1/2, so different probs i guess.

I wondered this, as I said in the OP, he's not eating properly. In fact he regularly with go without eating anything but a couple of spoonfuls of dinner (we are a that or nothing household) but I'm not sure what came first, not eating or not sleeping, so not sure which one effects the other IYSWIM. I somestimes think he just can't be bothered to eat because he is too tired!

Sorry, missed that bit of your OP. . Any chance you can stuff him full during the rest of the day, or give him some cereal before bed?

We're a that or nothing household too, so i'm always reluctant to do it..

TBH he doesn't actually eat that much during the day either, just not interested. He'll have a breakfast of Ready Brek or Weetabix with some fruit and orange juice. Than at nursery he has milk and a healthy snack. Comes home and isn't really interested in sandwiches, but will eat yogurt and cheese, then perhaps another snack afternoon. He's always saying he's hungry but will only want biscuit/yogurt/cheese/crisps which he won't get. Then dinner a couple of spoonfuls. Unless we're having 'orange beans' with something, he'll eat tins of those. In fact, now I've written it down, he's eating habits have gone really bad too whats happened?!? He used to be such a good eater (and sleeper)

DS did this recently too - we ended up cutting out all biscuits/yoghurts/flapjack and just giving him his savoury meals. If he
didn't eat them, tough. [sounds like a right cow]

Black out blinds?

does he have a clock in his bedroom? does he know what time he should stay in bed until? DS nearly 4 went through a phase waking about 5 a few months ago. we bought him a clock and told him he has to stay in bed asleep until both hands are at the bottom. he sometimes wakes a bit earlier than 6.30am bur it has worked (that coupled with bribery - if he stayed in bed til the right time he got a reward for a couple of weeks.).

breakfast before teef and bed - cereals or toast, it matters not

also check what time your central heating or boiler comes on

does the milkman clank round early?

Might be a good idea pureas, the only one I give him at the moment is yogurt. Thank you for helping!

chofleur - I'm not sure it would work, might give it ago though.. I had thought about the moon/sun clock but so expensive, hadn't thought of just a normal clock!

caitlinmeringue - I worry that if I do that he'll have even more reason not to eat his tea. Tonight was cheesy pasta with peas and broccoli, he's had two spoonfuls and a bite of garlic bread (took it off him until he ate some more pasta, but he didn't).

We have crap electric heaters that are either on or off. I tend to leave them on all night with the window on the latch, seems to keep the room at the right temp all night.

Milkman comes at 7... no other noise that I can think that would wake him.... interesting thought though, I wonder if next door go to work at that time, his van is parked below his window...