Hi - my 6 1/2 year old wakes nearly every day between 4.50 am and 5.20 and cannot go back to sleep. He tries to but can't. It makes absolutely no difference what time he goes to bed. It's dark outside so there is no sun getting into his room. The heating comes on at different times. He's shattered by 5 pm but I've been trying to keep him up until 7.45 pm every evening for the last 5 nights in another attempt to see if consistently not letting him sleep until a bit later means he sleeps longer in the morning. (We used to get them into bed at about 7.00 pm and read stories until 7.20 when he went to sleep.). It doesn't so far. He's always woken up really early since a baby. We tried every method of sleep training then - always for 3/4 weeks (at least) at a time - so we were very consistent. And paid for well qualified (sensible and kind!) 'sleep consultants'. Sometimes it helped a bit but not much. I'm exhausted. And 7 months pregnant. We have another child who is 5, who has always been an amazing sleeper and we didn't do anything differently so I'm sure it's just his nature.
He gets upset on his own being awake so early. So I let him turn the lamp on at 6 and read until 6.30 - then he can come downstairs.
Any ideas? I really really need some sleep and it's upsetting seeing him so tired in the afternoon and getting so upset every morning (well, if you call 5 am morning). He's a really good boy and wants to sleep. He does what he's told and never comes out of his room before he's allowed but I hear him pattering around (going to the loo, checking other clocks etc) in his room on the floor above mine from 4.50/5.00ish every morning...