4yo waking too early - any experiences or advice?

[maxpower]

My DD is 4.5yo and started primary school last week. We've also got a 4 wk old baby so I'm aware she's had lots of major life events and changes to deal with in a short space of time. However, pretty much since DS was born, DD's been waking up any time from 5.30am onwards, wandering around between her room, the bathroom and our room, shouting for DH or I to ask us ridiculous questions (eg are we making cheesecake today - this morning's question) asking what the time is, wanting to say hello to her brother (even when he's asleep). I'm trying to be understanding but what with being up and down all night with the baby it's really hard. DH also works shifts which means sometimes I'm 'on duty' 24/7 for days at a time and also his sleep patterns are already disturbed without being woken up unecessarily, leaving him exhausted - and he's trying to study for important exams in 3 weeks time. What's concerning me is that she's clearly exhausted and needs to get some more sleep. She goes to bed fine, it's the mornings that are the problem. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice? thanks

We bought DS a cheap digital alarm clock and told him no one was awake before the first number was 7. They're doing number work at school - he's four too - so he knew what to look for. It's rough being awake at 5am!

Yep, we've been using an alarm clock with her for the last year to help her get up at a sensible time. It was working quite well (even if she did try to get up early it was only by 15mins or so) - this is a whole new level of waking up early for her!

I am probably just very lucky to have had a child who liks to sleep, but I have always treated every wake up before 7am as tho it was a 2am wakeup and put straight back to bed with lots of grumpy mummy and no chat at all

He now sleeps till 7.15 every school day and 8.30-9.00 on weekends so it has worked for us...

Star chart for staying in bed until whatever time you decide? Sellotape her to the bed ?

DTG we send her back to bed without too much hassle but it's the waking us up in the first place that's the real problem. I've told her a million times that I don't even expect her to stay in bed but she's not to shout and she must stay in her room, which I think is a reasonable compromise.

Scooter - we've reinstated the star chart today in the hopes that helps. I suggested strappimg her to her bed to DH this morning, then we'd just have the shouting to deal with

Is the baby normally asleep at 5am or whenever she decides to get up? It might be that it's a time when she thinks she can get you to herself. We have a nine month old now but, thinking back, four year old DS did the same getting up early thing when the baby was small. It's a killer!

Hmm interesting to hear you had a similar experience Scooter. DS isn't in a routine yet so sometimes he is awake and sometimes he isn't when she chooses to get up. I think the star chart has helped, she was clearly trying her best this morning.

DS (4) has started this too. He's waking up about 5.30 and not going back to sleep. I still share a bed with him (lots of reasons - to long to go into) and have wondered whether its because of this that he is waking. I wondered if he was in his own bed if it might then be more boring - so he'd go back to sleep.(instead of kicking me and trying to talk to me).

But its interesting to hear that your daughter wanders around - i think my son would too.

The thing that makes me anxious and irritated by it is that he is then exhausted during the day - he obviously needs the sleep so I don't know why he's waking up so early.

Actually he is very good and lies still and quiet, apart from the thrashing about and occasional attempts at starting conversation. He'll lie awake for 2 hours - letting me try to sleep.

I wondered whether it was linked to him having a full bladder - as he did only get out of nappies at nighttime 2 months ago.

OP There is a clock specifically designed for this, my friend bought it off the internet and it has changed her life. I will find out the website address and private messgage you on Monday after I've seen it at school.
You can make out it's a big girl's clock and make it a positive thing and in conjunction with the star chart it might just work.
It 's very easy for small children to use. Basically you set it so the sun comes out at whatever time you like and then the idea is that if the sun on the clock isn't up, it's still night time so they're not to get out of bed/their room or whatever rules you decide! I really wish I'd done it. My son always wakes between 6 - 6:30 am every day. I actually am fine with this because our body clocks are exactly the same, but the 5 O'clock mornings of years gone by still send a shiver down my spine and bring me out in a cold sweat.
Good lck - I'll message you as soon as I find out the address

skewiff if DD would lie as still and quiet as your DS seems to, this wouldn't be quite so much of a problem DD is also tired during the day so it's clear she does need more sleep than she's getting.

misfitless we tried the clock and failed some time ago - we've moved on to using a different alarm clock - she knows what she's supposed to do, it's just that she doesn't do it.

Tellingly she's said a couple of times that she doesn't want to be on her own, which I think is a reference to the fact that for obvious reasons, the baby sleeps in our room so she's the only one in a room on her own at night. I'm hoping that come 4 months time when DS goes into his own room, it might put an end to this, but boy, it feels like a long way off right now