OK so the early waking thing...well he's 4 years old now and I'm getting mighty sick of it

[katierocket]

DS has always always been an earlier waker but having just had his 4th birthday I am getting very fed up with regular 5.30 starts. Sometimes it is 6 or 6.15 but this morning was 5am.

He's got a bunny clock, we've tried sticker charts. It makes no difference what time he goes to bed i.e. if he goes to bed at 7 he wakes up early and if he goes to bed later he still wakes up early but is just more grumpy.

If anyone has a magic cure or at least some suggestions of what could help I will gladly sell you my soul. Or even if someone can say "heh, give it one more year and when he starts reception he'll you'll be dragging him out of bed in the morning...."

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star chart worked for dd from about 20 months. DS doesn't have same comprehension though so too young. Star chart with tangible reward is good, ie when that young can't really be a trip in say 5 days time it's too long so perhaps a treat after breakfast or something like that?

cod. Naughty school man patrols our road twice a day, once at 6am and once at 7pm !!

NO he's definitely awake, definitely. And yes he still needs sleep. As for the putting him back to bed thing that's what we do really. This morning I put him back 3 times (and undressed him since he'd decided to get dressed). We are doing the no TV thing again tomorrrow morning and it's definitely stuck in his head so here's hoping.

LOl at norty school - like that but knowing DS it would give him nightmares.

OK - I'm not sure whether this will be encouraging or discouraging to you. But today for the first time ever ds2 got up early (5.30 - he told me, I didn't wake up), played in the playroom for a bit, then realised he was still tired, so got in the spare bed and went back to sleep!

He is 6.5 though, so it could take a while to get to this stage.

Roisin there is hope for us all but do I have to wait 4 years
Kr, you could not find a more sensitive and easily frightened child than dd but actually she doesn't get scared about the naughty school at all, amazingly. It works for her but maybe not for your ds (or mine come to think of it!!). Think putting back is also a good one. Have done that and it worked.

For all sleep deprived, desperate parents I have something that may make you feel better. When ds wakes at 4.45am I console myself with the fact that he is better than my dh who used to wake at 3am until he was about 4 !!!!! Every day, without fail. He got his poor mum and dad up at 3!

3am at least you know whose genes are at fault LOL

Any faint glimmer of hope is good roisin.

Well he made it to 7.30 tonight (excitement of trick and treaters etc). He's been up since 4.30!! you'd think he's have zonked out ages ago. Let's see what happens tomorrow, he's back at nursery school tomorrow so I hope for his sake he sleeps longer otherwise he's not going to be able to concentrate. (and obviously my sake too!)

Yes clearly dh is solely at fault here and I take credit for all their excellent behavioural genes of course....

Really hope he sleeps well tonight too. My ds and dd asleep by 7. Fingers crossed for a lie in (5am onwards ) for you and I and all the other mums and dads of early risers.

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DP has been away from Friday night on some ridiculous, non sensical Coast to coast cycle ride. He's on his way home - apparently he's knackered, ah diddums, aint NO way I'm getting up tomorrow.

Too right! Let him have the pleasure of ds tomorrow morning. Sounds like it's his turn

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OK thanks Cod, I think the telly thing really hit home and the last two mornings he's woken up at 5 but gone back to sleep until 6.15, which is still early but ok with me!

Cross fingers it may continue

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yes, told him to go back to sleep until bunny clock woke and he did! bloody miracle but not counting chickens just yet as he has a habit of lulling you into a false sense of security. Consistency is definitely the key I think i.e. if he wakes up tell him back to sleep, if he keeps getting up, no TV etc

I'm shocked at what some of you put up with from your kids. I'm not talking about the toddlers that can't be reasoned with, but the 3 and 4 yos. I think Cod's advice is good.

DS has a light (star from Ikea) on a timer that comes on at 7 and he is not allowed to get up until then (apart from to go to the loo with his torch and then straight back to bed but this rarely happens). Well when the clocks went back we forgot to change the timer so it came on at 6 and DS appeared in our bedroom at 6.30. Anyway I got up and took him back to bed and turned his light off and then went and got him at 7. I'm that sort of evil mother. Although I had let him stay up until 8.30 the night before to help him adjust to the extra hour.

Glad things have started working for you kr.

well and today?

shhhhhh, 6.20 but don;t tell anyone because that'll jinx it. If it continues to work (the no TV threat)I promise to name my 2nd born after you (but obviously don't hold your breath for any imminent pregnancy announcement...)

i am so pleased kr

lets hope the fireworks doesn't unsettle him then! shhhh I AM being quiet and if they do then it's not my fault ok?

DON'T unsettle.....tut tut