6 year old waking early...

[rebeccaw]

My 6 year old boy goes to sleep like a dream every night between 7-7.30 but then he's routinely waking up at around 5.30. He gets really tired and irritable as a result.

We have black out curtains, and he has a clock in his room and knows not to get up until 7, but I know he's awake because I can hear him chatting away to himself.

Wouldn't mind ... but he's clearly not getting enough sleep for his needs and we get a lot of bad temper, plus he struggles to concentrate. Any ideas?? This has been going on for a while and I'm worried as it gets lighter it's going to get worse.

My ds is exactly the same. No matter what time he goes to bed he will be awake any time from 4.30am. Therefore to help him i moved his bedtime earlier so normally asleep by 6.15. Therefore getting the extra sleep at beginning of night. Luckily my evening routine lets me do this but may not be the case for yourself. Excellent however that he stays chatting on his own, my ds generally likes me or dh to read with him.

Yes, I tried moving his bed time later to see if he would sleep in ... all that happened was he woke at the same time only grumpier! I guess I just have to hope that he'll eventually grow out of it.