Early wake ups

[Emiliemoo]

Hi

My 8 month old sleeps in her own cot in her own room and although she does sometimes wake up for a feed in the night, she generally sleeps well. My only issue is that she wakes between 4am - 5am ready for the day. If I bring her in to my bed to breastfeed I can buy some more time in bed for me but not that much.

She usually has two naps a day and wants her bed by around 6pm. We've tried pushing her bedtime back a little each night but she ends up overtired and grouchy and so far it has no impact on her wake up times. Very occasionally she will have a third nap which pushes bedtime back but again, no impact on get up times.

We try and leave her in her cot if she is happily babbling or shouting when she wakes up in the morning but will go to her if she cries. I try to have limited talking etc so not to give her the message it's morning. I have tried feeding and putting her back in her own bed but 10 mins later she is crying/shouting.

Is my child just naturally an early riser or is there some trick I'm missing?! Would love a 6am lie in!!!

Thats small children I'm afraid. If you are lucky you could try making bedtime later to see if she sleeps longer (may not work) but otherwise there's not much you can do until she's old enough to play in quietly in her room unsupervised until a sensible hour.

My 8 month old is doing exactly the same thing. Waking at 5.30am, full of beans. A feed makes her sleep again, but only for 10 minutes. She is now having her first nap of the day whilst I watch Peppa Pig with my 2 year old! I remember her going through a similar stage at this age.
You are not alone.

@user1474565301 Fingers crossed it is a stage!!!