Early waking

[Madallie]

My LO is 8 months now. Since birth she was a terrible sleeper. Screamed everytime I put her down day or night from the 1st night at the hospital. Now she will settle herself and does nap in the day (2 naps 1 about an hr the other just over an hr). She also sleeps from about 7pm til 5.45am (6am if i/m lucky!)

Whilst I am so happy about this sleep, LO is tired one hr or less after waking so can't help but think she really needs to sleep longer. I've tried putting her to bed earlier and later but it doesn't seem to help. Thern she needs a nap really early after breakfast which ruins our routine for the whole day cos then she can't make it until 7pm bedtime. This means she needs to go to bed early which means she then wakes even earlier. It's like a vicious circle.

Does anyone have any ideas or experience on this?

Hi, our DD who will be one on Sunday used to do this, sometimes she'd barely last 45 minutes after waking up She started to sleep a bit later after about 9 months so there may be light at the end of the tunnel for you. i know how frustrating it is when they wake early, it used to be 5 am for us and you know you've been doing it for too long when 6 begins to feel like a lie in
Sometimes on rare occasions she's even slept in until 8!!
Not really a lot you can do at this stage except wait it out and hope it gets better. a friends daughter woke at 5.30 am until she was about 5

Ah thanks for the support. I kinda guessed it was fairly common and that I just have to sit tight, although had secretly hoped for a miracle piece of advice!

Let's just hope she doesn't stay this way til 5. That sounds awful and would like another baby too at some point in not too distant future.

Ah thanks for the support. I kinda guessed it was fairly common and that I just have to sit tight, although had secretly hoped for a miracle piece of advice!

Let's just hope she doesn't stay this way til 5. That sounds awful and would like another baby too at some point in not too distant future.

My youngest has never slept well and has always been an early riser too. He is now 16months and a 4:30 start to the day is usual. Its so frustrating when they are tired again so soon after waking in the morning. I wish i could give you a magic answer but i think early waking is the most difficult problem to solve (i am still looking for the answer!). I am sure you have tried most things but my suggestions would be:

1. Blackout blind/curtains
2. Push back morning nap by 15mins every day (try to stop them finishing off their night time sleep with a nap) - this one did help us a bit
3. Chck if there is a noise waking them - boiler, neighbour leaving for work etc
4. Controlled crying
5. Bit of cereal/toast as an evening snack - aiming to stop them waking up hungry

Like i say, we've tried almost everything and our LO still wakes really early at 16months so i am not sure there is a quick solution but some of the above might help. I just keep telling myself that it will get better and before i know it i will be struggling to get him out of his bed in the mornings!

Thanks for the suggestions. Think I have covered just about all of these though. Its is good to know that I'm not the only one dealing with this (all my friends seem to have babies who are 7-7 sleepers of if you can believe it 7-8 sleepers!!!!!)

What do you do with a 4.30am start? Do you get up for the day then?
How does the rest of your day pan out when your youngest has been awake since then? Does he have a super early bedtime?

Also how does this work with your other chn! I admire people who have more than 1. I seriously don't know how I would be able to look after another child too!

You must be doing a great job!