Has anyone used a sleep consultant/clinic to solve early waking problems?

[ExistentialistCat]

Just that, really.

At end of tether with 10 month-old DD waking at 5 every morning, exhausted but refusing to go back to sleep.

I've used sleep consultants with good results in the past but that was for nighttime problems. I've heard that early waking is notoriously difficult to crack and I don't want to waste my time and money.

Would love to hear about other people's experiences - what interventions were suggested, whether they worked, etc.

Thank you!

Is that not in the realms of really quite normal for children of that age?

Agree with pinky that unfortunately early waking is really common. DS woke at 5am for 2 years and it was impossible to crack, he just slept longer when he was ready.

I third that. DD just happens to be an early riser, but that does run in the family.

You can get clocks for toddlers to understand when they can get out of bed so it's not too early but I'm afraid you'd have to wait a few years for that.

DS was a sod for this. Can I asked about the rest of the schedule. Particularly a long and early morning sleep. Most children who wake so very early want to go back to sleep, around 8 or 9 am. SWMNBN says that this sleep "belongs" to the night sleep. A 10 month old needs a maximum of 3 hours daytime sleep. Anymore than that will come off the night.

Thank you for your replies, and apologies for not answering sooner - it's been a long day with a tired baby!

I'm a bit horrified at the thought that 5 a.m. rising is just something to live with! I wouldn't mind if DD2 were really ready to start the day then, but she's yawning and rubbing her eyes and unhappy. On the few days that she's managed to sleep until 6, she's so much happier.

Her schedule, since you ask, is:
Anytime from 5: Awake. BF. Breakfast at 7.30
9.20: put down for nap (having read SWMNBN, I've been gradually pushing this later, but so far that's made no difference). Wake her up at 10.
12/12.30: Lunch
1 pm ish: afternoon nap. She'll do anything from 45 minutes (cue nightmare afternoon and evening from hell) to just over 2 hours (happy baby).
6.30: bath, BF, bed. Falls absolutely fast asleep by 7.
And then we tend not to hear a peep for another 10 hours, so I know I'm very lucky compared to some.

I'm desperately hoping that going down to 1 nap a day will help a bit, both with the early rising and the slightly erratic afternoon nap, and am trying to encourage DD in that direction.

I spoke very briefly to one sleep clinic and they said her naps 'should' be 10-11 and 2-3.30. Trouble is, DD1 (aged 2) does activities most mornings that start at 10 and has a nap 1-2.30, so this arrangement would make life quite complicated. That's why I've asked for your opinions - if all I get is advice to juggle naptimes around a bit, I don't want to pay the rather eyewatering fees for a private consultation!

you might find this useful... early waking but it is pretty common...