Early Wake Ups - So Exhausted

[octoberfarm]

Hi all,

Wondered if anyone could offer some advice - we have a nearly 18 month old who (credit where credit's due!) goes down well at 7, but is up at 5:20-5:45 every day without fail. All things being equal this would be fine, but our eldest has a chronic health condition that has us up between 2 and 6 times every night and the combination of the early starts and constant wake ups is slowly killing us.

I suspect I'm probably being unreasonable as he's sleeping a good stretch, but does anyone have any advice on how to shift his bedtime (and so his wake up time) later, or anything else? Sorry if this sounds ridiculous, I'm just so tired.

Thanks so much.

Later bedtime is the answer. It's quite reasonable to expect anything in the range of 10-12h sleep at night, at this age if we assume baby is still daytime sleeping.

I always aimed for a 8.00-8.30pm bedtime at this age so that wake up was around 7.00-7.30am. We didn't move to 7ish bedtime until daytime naps stopped.

It is difficult to shift routine, but not impossible if you are consistent. I don't know what your daytime sleep routine is, but I'd start with either sliding lunchtime nap later (by about 90 min) or if you have a long afternoon nap try combining making it a bit later and a bit shorter.

Then just power through to a later bedtime (take a longer bath, expect longer sofa cuddles) and be consistent for a good 2 or 3 weeks. Be equally consistent with morning wake up. Set a "no later than time" of the earliest you are happy to get up, I'd suggest 7am. Always wake baby up at that time if not already awake.