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Original poster

Help! My toddler is up for the day at 4:30am!

16 replies

caroline29woohooo · 22/10/2016 05:26

Any tips? Every morning at 4:30am she is wide awake asking to go downstairs. I can't get her back to sleep! It happens every morning so I end up going downstairs with her. She has just turned 3.

OP posts:
FATEdestiny · 22/10/2016 14:06

Try making her loads warmer at bedtime. Extra layers, fluffy socks, fleece onesie, Warner sleeping bag/duvet.

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 22/10/2016 14:08

What is waking her up? Can she tell you yet? A neighbour being up for work early, deliveries outside, cars moving, lights in the window, temperature of the room, no night light / too much light, hungry, needing changed etc. Any pattern at all or is she just happy with minimal sleep?

My nephew is up about the same time every day but he's 5 now. He's just always been the same and won't sleep.

Corialanusburt · 22/10/2016 14:10

What time did she go to bed? Did she nap in the day?

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 22/10/2016 14:10

Put her to bed two and a half hours later?

Corialanusburt · 22/10/2016 14:12

Also, 4.30 will be the time she comes into a lighter sleep. So if she's not tired enough she won't sleep through.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 22/10/2016 14:15

It's hard for us to advise. It could be that as you have consistently just gone downstairs with her when she wakes at that time she has learned that that's just when the day starts.

I was hardcore with mine when they tried this. Told them it just wasn't day time yet and we would not be getting up until morning. They might have stayed awake for another hour or so but then eventually went back to sleep for a few more hours. There is no way I'm getting up in the middle of the night to start my day before the last one has even finished! I would rather stay awake in my bed in comfort listening to them jabber on or play with toys in their room for an hour or an hour and a half than get up in the cold dark house and take them downstairs to entertain them.

On the other hand, I know quite a few people with ASD who seem to be awake for the day at similar times. Only you would know whether that is likely.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 22/10/2016 14:19

As long as she is your average child, if she has a great sleeping routine with consistent and appropriate bed time (7.00-7.30 was the time mine went to bed at age 3 I think) with Not too long a nap in the day, then there is no need for her to feel wide awake at 4.30.

Have you googled number of hours sleep a child her age should be getting?

BakeOffBiscuits · 22/10/2016 14:23

Look at all the things suggested by others but by 3 years old I would also be telling her that it's still night time and she has to go back to bed! She really is old enough to understand this.

Pootle40 · 31/10/2016 21:27

Hate to sound harsh but I would refuse to get up and even tolerate some tantrums until they got the message. Is she getting plenty fresh air and exercise?!

RNBrie · 31/10/2016 21:31

It's a really common phase. Getting up with her and starting the day will only solidify the habit though!

When mine did this, they had to go back to bed till 6.30. I'd lie in bed with them in silence if they couldn't do it alone. We also had a gro clock so they could see it was still the middle of the night!!

JennyOnAPlate · 31/10/2016 21:32

You don't need to get up at 4.30 with a 3 year old. She's old enough to be told that it's still night time and she needs to stay in bed.

FusionChefGeoff · 31/10/2016 21:45

I've just cracked this with the help of an online sleep support service - headlines were:

  • reduced daytime sleep
  • made sure no daytime sleep at all after 2.30
  • earlier bedtime to 7pm
  • broken record. "It's sleeptime darling" from wake up until 7am just repeatedly putting her back in bed (13 times 1.5 hrs first night, 7 times 30 mins day 2, 1 time, 10 mins day 3!)

Took just 3 nights to consistently do 7-7.

You can crack it just be consistent!

user1478984702 · 12/11/2016 21:21

Fusionchefgeoff which online sleep support did you use? We need this...(our 29m old takes ages falling asleep, wakes several times in the night and then is up at 5:30 for the day..)

Solasum · 12/11/2016 21:31

Is she hungry maybe? Morning in this house does not start til 7 during the week, later at the weekend. I find giving some milk to a slightly Early rising DS and snuggling him in bed next to me so he drops off can almost always buy an extra hour. There is no way I am getting up before 7am.

FusionChefGeoff · 12/11/2016 21:40

Google Baby Tech Support - honestly changed our life in 4 days. We now have to wake her up at 7.30 some days!

flopsybunny45 · 13/11/2016 20:52

Bigger bed worked for us... she's now in single cabin rather than cot bed and seems to enjoy being there!!

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