How do I stop DS2 waking so early? He's 3.9yo

[McKayz]

Please help me stop DS2 getting up so early. I am shattered as I also have 10 week old DD who wakes during the night.

DS2 has never been one for sleeping really. He was 11 months before he slept through and has always been trouble. Most nights he doesn't go to sleep until about 10pm and then is up at 6. This morning it was half 5, just as I had got DD to sleep after a feed.

I've tried everything. He usually goes to bed at 7 with DS1 and then proceeds to come down stairs about 20 odd times and finally falls asleep when I go to bed about 10. Then he comes banging on my door at 6am.

I tried putting them to bed later but it didn't work and the health visitor said put him to bed earlier which also didn't work. He's starting to nap during the day again as he's so tired. Also he wakes DS1 who is then tired and grumpy.

DS2 starts nursery soon so I need to have his sleep sorted out.

Thanks.

My ds who is the same age is a nightmare sleeper if he has a nap during the day. I know it is hard when they are grumpy and so tempting to let them have a nap but I would really consider trying to stop him. After a few days of no naps then he should be sleeping much better at night.

It must be tricky for you with a newborn as well so Is there anyone who could take him out for a really fun afternoon to keep him awake?

I do keep him awake most days but it doesn't make much difference. Apart from him being very grumpy and refusing to eat. He's still up very early.

We had a very busy day yesterday and didn't get home until half 8 and he was still up early.

We got a gro-clock (the sun comes up at the time you set for him to get up). It worked brilliantly very quickly (along with a bit of bribery that he needed to stay in bed until the sun came up). If he does wake up before sun comes up he plays quietly in his room (most of the time, although we do occasionally hear a loud 'Oh, it is taking so loooong for the sun to come up'. He's nearly 5, but we've had it since he was 2.

I've been tempted by one of those but haven't known anyone who uses one. Did it take much getting used too?

I'm desperate to have some more sleep in the morning.

We put a pile of books by ds's bed and told him when he wakes he can go for a wee and then back to bed and 'read' til we went into his room - we also used a clock.

Tbh we went in at 6.30am as I think any longer is pushing it if bed is early which it was for ds.

No, not really. We introduced it between him being 2 and 3 (can't remember exactly when). I think at first we set it to 6.45 and gradually made it later. It's currently set for 7.30 although he often 'over sleeps' til 8. Ds does respond very well to bribes though, so he got either a tiny gift, or a sticker on reward chart when he stayed in bed for the duration of 'night' (this included when going to bed).
Looking forward to when I can use it on ds2, 7 weeks and really not understanding the concept of sleep at all!