3yr old waking at 5am

[LG]

my ds who has always been a v good sleeper has started waking up between 5 and 6am. He is then exhausted by 1pm and starts behavng very badly but refuses to nap. I am also exhausted as I have a 7 wk old dd who is waking in the night. Any tips on persuading ds to sleep later or stay quiet in his room with his toys until 7am??

LG - no advice, but lots of sympathy! My twin DDs (nearly 3) are doing the same and it is completely exhausting. I'll be interested to hear any tips from others!

I'm in the same boat. My 2 yr 7 month ds2 was up at 5:30 this morning. He wakes any time between 5 & 6. This has been going on since the clocks went back. Have tried keeping him up later, cutting down daytime naps - nothing makes him wake later -just makes him rattier during the day.
We have got to the point where we are in bed at 9:00 some nights just to catch up.

Will your ds nap if you take him for a drive ? I know sometimes this is not always convenient, but it usually works for us.

Much sympathy, it must be very hard with your little one too.

We were in the same boat alwsys ds would wake before 6 but all of a sudden it is nearer 6.45!! Yippee!! Never thought that would be a lie in. Perhaps it is just a phase, I hope so. 2nd due in July so I'll be really pleased if this carries on. Between Christmas and New Year we had to wake him up to go to nursery and we really could not believe it so hang in there - it may sort itself out

Dare I mention it but there was a feature in the Indy on Sunday on a 2.5 yr old who woke at 5am consistently - parents consulted with Gina Ford as part of promotion for her new book on sleeping. Anyway, the key bits of advice were: NO day sleep, and a star chart for staying in bed (supplemented by Mum with biscuit bribes). Anyway it worked for them! No online link I'm afraid.

Kayleigh
DS1 was like that at 18 months when the clocks went back and it took three months to resolve.

I am certain these incidences are just phses that their body clocks and the seasons sort out so use any bribe/method that works

It's a killer, isn't it?

We put a bedside lamp on a timer switch, and the rule was if the light is OFF, you stay in your room as it is still night-time. DS did understand the rule, but rarely stuck to it, but he was much younger than yours. And leave juice and biscuit.Is he doing it to make sure you are not alone with the baby? If you snuggled him in bed with you and didn't talk to him, would he drift back to sleep?

we have had this on and off, in phases since DS has slept through (now 26 months)

Cutting out sleep in the day does not work (don't care what Gina B*** Ford says ) - just makes him really crabby and overtried and he actually sleeps really badly throughout the night.

We resigned ourself to the fact that they are phases that do end.

Christopher Green in Toddler Taming says that it is really common, especially with boys for some reason - he doesn't have much useful advice though - just sympathy

Agree with Katie Rocket. Cutting out daytime nap just makes ds1 unbearable. It is a phase - it will end. I know that is no help now - we were on our knees with it but keep going......it will get better!

My DS 29 months has always been a crappy sleeper. ATM he goes down at 8pm and wakes about 5ish, will only nap if in the car. I think this is one of the reasons why I only want the one child. I couldn't cope with two crappy sleepers. Can't wait to get my own back, when he's 18 and comming in late from a night out. I'm gonner be up hoovering at 6am sharp

I also find it quite amazing that we can all be up, dressed and breakfasted by 7.30 ish with no-where to go as it's too early. DH is sometimes washing the car at 8am. Imagaine that pre-children?

Does anyone know whether it may be worth getting one of those clocks that eyes open when it's time to get up, if so where can you get them? Cheers!

Furball, IMO they are a waste of money. Had one with ds1. It was a rabbit from Blooming Marvellous. But most kids catalogues do them. I think GLTC also do them.
Ds1 just ignored it !

s/one i know said the bunny clock worked for her. she lent it to me but sadle it hasn't worked- my problem at 3 years is waking for head stroke/cuddle 3 times in night and then bleedin' wanting to sleep beyond time to leave for work and nursery. LG have you tried bribing with treats at w/end for going back to bed for a while? we play a game- if his daddy says "come and have a cuddle" he knows he can come in. if not then i behave as if it's 2 am. not sure if that helps

thank you all for your messages. I have sent off for a winnie the pooh sleep training alarm clock and may try to supplement this with a star chart. He was up again at 5.20 am this morning and I am getting to the end of my patience!All other tips welcome

I finally had enough of this with my two DDs the other morning - me and DH are knackered. They both came charging in like bloody baby elephants at 4.45am on Monday and I completely lost it, marched them back into their room, shouting at them - telling them how very cross I was and how they weren't going to have any biscuits or treats that day and that maybe their little friend wouldn't be coming to play either unless they stayed in their beds until daylight!

I got back into bed, thinking I had completely wasted my time, expecting the door to bang open again. Next thing I knew it was 7.45! Fantastic - and it has been like that the last two mornings as well. They are much much happier, having had more sleep and so are we and DH! I just hope to God it lasts. I really think I was being too reasonable with them before by just accepting their hideously early starts.