Waking baby in the morning

[Tentativesteps133]

DC (17 weeks) is currently asleep after a feed at 8am. She went to sleep around 8.45 last night and slept til 4am, fed then slept til 8am then back asleep. It would be helpful to me if she was to have an earlier start to the day and earlier bedtime - say 8pm til 8am. Should I start waking her in the mornings? Would that bring her bedtime earlier or just make her overtired in the day? I’m loath to disturb her as I count my lucky stars she’s sleeping so well at the moment. Do babies naturally fall into a 7-7 schedule or does it take intervention sometimes?

Don't wake her!

My baby used to sleep til 9 or 10 and I felt the same, but it changed over time and now she's a "normal" waker.

Unless you have school run to do or an appointment just enjoy the peace!

Personally I would always wake the baby at the same time each day. It helps to set a loose routine. Since DD was about 6 weeks old, I’ve woken her at 7am, whatever the night was like (we had some very rough nights early on!)

Since she was 10weeks old she has slept 7.30 until 7am. (She’s now 11 months). I usually have to wake her, but she is very happy, and then we know roughly what time our naps will be, so our day is a bit more predictable.

A baby only needs so much sleep in the day, so if she is waking at say, 10am and having some naps in the day, she is not going to be able to fall asleep at 7.30 ish.

All babies are different and some naturally fall into an earlier pattern over time, but mine needed some intervention!

It really doesn’t matter either way. REALLY.

Do whatever suits you.

With my first I didnt wake her following the 'don't wake a baby they need their sleep' advice. She was awful at sleeping anyway so it may not have helped but she didn't really adjust until I started having to wake her for nursery!
With my second and third I had to wake them for taking DD to school, and from early on theyre used to getting up between 7-7.30 and their naps and bedtime fit around that.

DD2 is 1 and a half and sleeps 7.30-7, naps 10.30-12.30 (roughly, will put her down for her nap earlier or later depending on whether she seems tired or is happy playing)

DS is 5 months and sleeps roughly 8-7.30/8 then naps random times/amounts still as and when he seems tired.

If she wants to nap soon after you wake her up though I'd definitely let her, DS 5 months will sometimes nap at 8.45 when we do the school run after only being up an hour, but it means he's been awake and dressed for if we want to go out etc at least rather than if he'd just stayed asleep in his cot.