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Original poster

Both DC waking early, how can I sort this before the clocks go back?

38 replies

FerminaUrbinoDaza · 06/10/2010 08:11

Both my DC have started waking at 5:45ish, DD is 2.10 and DS 16 months. It's early but doable ATM but the thought of it turning into 4:45 when the clocks go back fills me with dread. Sometimes one wakes the other, DS by crying and DD by 'reading' loudly in her bedroom or making a hash of opening my bedrom door. Sometimes they wake independently but still too early.

I'm not expecting them to sleep until 8:00 or 8:30 like friends DC do (although that would be wonderful) but 7:00 or 6:30 would be much, much better for us all.

Bedtime starts at 7:00, so DS is usually asleep by 7:30 and DD by 7:45 or 8:00.

Any ideas?

OP posts:
Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 06/10/2010 11:37

Oh dear, is it a hopeless case?

DD has had phases of early waking before but they always resolved themselves. Both of them awake so early is too much, I feel like I have to try something this time.

OP posts:
Teaandcakes · 06/10/2010 19:07

we had exactly the same situation with both ds for months. Used to get up between 4.30 and 5am. Decided it couldn't go on like that when got pregnant with dd. The way we handled it was to completely ignore them if they woke before 7am. Both had a cup of water to ensure they weren't thirsty. It took about 3 mornings of completely ignoring them but it worked! They shouted and screamed but we just had to be tough! They both sleep til 7am now most days. Ds2 did of course disturb ds1 while we were doing it with him but it was worth the disruption for a few days! Hope you manage to sort it out soon. Feel free to ask any questions.

rubyslippers · 06/10/2010 19:08

Wake to sleep

If you search the archives you will find some threads on it

gowest · 06/10/2010 19:11

I feel your pain OP. I'm in a similar situation.

2 DCs 10m & 2.8 years.

I'm starting to dread the clocks going back too. My only hope is that bedtime will be 'later' so it will reset their body clocks that way.

Fingers crossed.

TheBreastmilksOnMe · 06/10/2010 19:15

I would 2nd doing the cold turkey thing but also probably buy one of those clocks with bunny ears on them that show eyes closed for the night and eyes opened for the morning. You can set it to whenever you want. I can't remember the name of it right now but it might work for your eldest and possibly for your youngest too.

gowest · 06/10/2010 19:25

I've seen those bunny clocks on amazon. They're quite expensive and they seem to have mixed reviews.

I might get one if it seems desperate. I think DD is old enoguh to understand the concept of it.

Teaandcakes · 06/10/2010 19:28

plus we bought a bunny clock for eldest ds so if he wakes before 7 he just lies in bed til it wakes up!

gowest · 06/10/2010 19:49

How old was your DS whe he got the 'hang' of the bunny clock?

What would you do if someone else in the house was up before the clock went off? If my baby wakes up my toddler can I reasonably expect her to stay in bed? Confused

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 06/10/2010 20:12

Thanks for the replies!

Will wake to sleep work on toddlers? I didn't want to rattle on too much in the OP - it's not 5:45 on the dot every day it varies between 5:30 and 6:15, although 5:45 is the most common time. Is that not to wide a spread for wake to sleep?

I'll definitely try it if they meet the criteria. For some reason I though it was for littler ones. I've always wanted to try wake to sleep but despite a myriad of sleep problems neither DC ever woke at predictable times for more than a few days.

I've read about the bunny clock on here many a time. The general consensus seemed to be that lots of people love it but a large proportion of DC are often woken by the click as the ears go up.

I put a carousel light on a timer in DDs room today but TBH I don't hold out much hope of it working. DD didn't seem to understand at all. How long did it take your DC to get the hang of waiting for the bunny?

As for COI, I'd really rather not. I suppose the DC are old enough now but it really would be a last resort.

OP posts:
Teaandcakes · 06/10/2010 20:18

ds was 2.5 when we started using the bunny clock. Took him a few days to get used to it! If ds2 woke up before this I would usually leave him too til bunny woke up. Most the time it wasn't very long before anyway.

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 06:39

Well, I tried wake to sleep and it worked a treat with DD (am an hour ahead), she woke at 7 on the dot! The timer on the lamp was a bit out so that didn't come on until she was already in my room. Will try and sort that today.

Less success with DS, but I think I might not have disturbed his sleep enough. He's a heavier sleeper than DD. He was loud and grumpy from 6:15 but didn't manage to wake DD.

I have hope Grin

OP posts:
gowest · 07/10/2010 08:45

This morning DS (10m) woke up at 5.35. DH gave him a bottle but in all the commotion he woke DD(2.8) up. I just firmly said it was night-time and we weren't starting the day. i lifted her back into her bed. I expected a right showdown but she did sleep (?) until about 6.45 so that was OK.

I think if we could crack the baby's early waking we'd be onto something. I have the feeling that 5.30am would be seen as too 'late' to do wake to sleep though.

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 10:03

DD always used to accept the 'it's not morning time yet' line, but not anymore!

I'm assuming Ds's waking is predictable, if so, I'd definitely try wake to sleep, you've got nothing to lose. My DD's waking is later than your DS's and it worked for her, today at least.

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gowest · 07/10/2010 11:06

Well you'd think we had nothing to lose... but what if we wke him at 4.30 and then he stays awake? Shock

systemsaddict · 07/10/2010 11:11

I'm planning to do the clocks going back over 4 days this time, starting bedtime and meals 15 minutes later each day and hoping that will help - last year it took a week before they were used to the new times.

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 11:26

gowest - No, no, no. You don't wake him! Heavens no, I'd never dare to do that either. You disturb his sleep but just so he stirs, not so he wakes.

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gowest · 07/10/2010 19:21

:)

I love the tone of horror to your post.

He's a really light sleeper so I may wake him by trying to stir him no?

Also at 5.30am he's slept for 11 hours straight through... Maybe that's enough to expect from a 10m old?

artifarti · 07/10/2010 19:54

Oooh, I do love a good early waking support thread!

Please keep us updated on how Wake to Sleep goes. My DS (2.1) has had many tortourous phases of early waking and is currently raring to go at 5.20-30am. Hmm Sometimes I have managed to stop it by late bedtime but this one is a stayer. One thing I have never had the guts to try is Wake to Sleep.

I suspect this phase is related to the never-ending trauma of his last molars but I'm just about willing to try anything...

gowest · 07/10/2010 20:28

I feel Ihave hijacked this thread a bit...

But I don't think I'll do wake to sleep with the impending clock change ahead... I'm TOO afraid of the consequences.

beccas · 07/10/2010 20:34

I don't have the clock on this post, I have a different one, which has increased in price lately from £26 to £39 in John Lewis.
Outrageous

Anyway, my bunny clock worked from age 2.3months and I agree on the ignore, a bit like Nanny Jo Frost when its bed time and you just put them back in bed and dont' talk to them.... do the same thing in the morning.
She is now 3.4 and we just say bunny not awake and she takes herself back. But you do need to be very strict and consistent with a bunny clock.
Not sure how to paste links, here goes but its a Kidsleep nightlight clock.

www.amazon.co.uk/Kid-Sleep-KSCLB-Kidsleep-Nightlight/dp/B000VVIHPS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1286479976&sr=8-1

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 20:47

Oh, hijack away, it's a good thing Grin

Seriously, wake to sleep is well worth a try. I can understand you being scared to try it at 4:30am. How about a couple of practice runs at a time when it wouldn't be a (total) disaster if he woke? Go on, creep into his bedroom one evening a couple of hours after bedtime and see what it takes to gently stir him.

With DD I just need to pull her duvet straight or stroke her tummy. DS is another story, last night I helped his arm out from between the cot bars, pulled his blanket straight and rubbed his back. He did turn his head from one side to the other, but it seems not even all that was enough to stir him enough to delay waking Hmm

IIRC if it works then it tends to be really very quick. 3 days or a week or something? It's a while since `i read up on it .

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 07/10/2010 20:49

Yes it works on toddlers

When I did it DS was 1

It took 9 nights you do it for 3 nights and see what happens

If they revert to their old wake up, you do WTS for 6 more nights

Worked for us

Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 20:54

In other news: I forgot to sort out the timer on DD's lamp (which I'm using as an improvised Bunny Clock) .

Did I mention that DS is cutting all four canines and a ATM? Poor little chap. No wonder he's waking up grumpy.

(ightlight/dp/B000VVIHPS/ref=sr11?ie=UTF8&qid=128 6479976&sr=8-1 beccas link to the other Bunny Clock)

OP posts:
Original poster
FerminaUrbinoDaza · 07/10/2010 20:56

x posts ruby. Thanks for that, it sounds like a good timescale. I so hope it works, even if it only helps one of them it's well worth the effort!

beccas link again, don't know what happened there.

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 07/10/2010 21:10

Best of luck!

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