Stupid wake up times

emrg · 2020-07-16T04:27:45+00:00

My little boy is 18 months old next month. Every single morning he wakes up at 4:45. No matter what we do. Long naps, shorter naps, super busy and tiring day times, we’ve tried pushing bedtime later, and earlier, literally nothing makes a difference. I’m SO tired from it. He could go to sleep at 6pm or 10pm and still wake up at 4:30/4:45. Is this just what time he’ll wake up for good? Or is there anything we can do to help him wake up a little later?

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TinySleepThief · 16/07/2020 05:32

Oh I hope someone comes on with some great advice because mine is exactly the same but he is only 7 months.

I honesty can't imagine I'll be a functioning human being if he's still waking before 5am at 18 months. Its already starting to take it's toll. You have my utmost sympathy I really hope someone comes along with a miracle solution.

Original poster

emrg · 16/07/2020 05:45

I feel like I shouldn’t complain as it probably could be worse but it’s so tiring, especially as some nights it takes hours for him to go to sleep too. My partner and I take it in turns to get up with him in the mornings (I’m furloughed, he’s back to work) but it’s exhausting. By 8am I have a screaming child because he’s so tired and wanting a nap already

OP posts:

wannabebump · 16/07/2020 05:47

Is it because of sunrise and light coming in a window? Black our blinds/curtains may help, and closing a window to stop bird noises using a fan instead if it's too warm? Good luck x

songbirdsings · 16/07/2020 06:19

You have my sympathy! I had one like this, I’m afraid it didn’t magically get better but I did get used to it. Everyone always felt they had the solution or told be what I was doing wrong. We tried absolutely everything! My other dc has never had sleep problems. In the end we just accepted it and stopped talking about it (and yes we were tired but I think we adapted)

Ds is now a teen and sleeps in long past everyone else - but he still struggles with sleep occasionally.

I think that sounds really negative but I’m trying to say you worrying and thinking about it will make it all seem so much worse

firstimemamma · 16/07/2020 06:24

I'm really sorry op but I could've written that post myself a while ago. 12-18 months it was bliss with 7-7 then at 18 months he decided he likes early starts (anything between 4 and 6:30 but it's recently settled on 5:15 most mornings).

I've tried everything I can think of that I feel comfortable with but nothing worked. We've learnt to live with it. He's nearly 2.

acocadochocolate · 16/07/2020 06:44

DD2 was the same. After a while, she shifted to 5, then 5:30, then 6. She's 16 now and in y11 so has been on 'holiday' for months but she still gets up at 7:30. When she was going to school, she could have got up at 7, like DD1, but she voluntarily got up at 6:30.

DD2 just doesn't need much sleep. She is the last in the family to fall asleep and never looks tired.

Original poster

emrg · 16/07/2020 06:45

@wannabebump

Is it because of sunrise and light coming in a window? Black our blinds/curtains may help, and closing a window to stop bird noises using a fan instead if it's too warm? Good luck x

We have a black out blind but it’s not the best. It lets a little bit of light in round the sides so that may be making it worse!

OP posts:

Original poster

emrg · 16/07/2020 06:46

@songbirdsings

You have my sympathy! I had one like this, I’m afraid it didn’t magically get better but I did get used to it. Everyone always felt they had the solution or told be what I was doing wrong. We tried absolutely everything! My other dc has never had sleep problems. In the end we just accepted it and stopped talking about it (and yes we were tired but I think we adapted)

Ds is now a teen and sleeps in long past everyone else - but he still struggles with sleep occasionally.

I think that sounds really negative but I’m trying to say you worrying and thinking about it will make it all seem so much worse

Thanks! I think we’re just going to have to accept he’s not a great sleeper!

He’s been relatively ok at night until the past month or so, I can cope with 6am wake ups but 4:30/4:45 is pushing it a bit.

OP posts:

Original poster

emrg · 16/07/2020 06:48

@firstimemamma

I'm really sorry op but I could've written that post myself a while ago. 12-18 months it was bliss with 7-7 then at 18 months he decided he likes early starts (anything between 4 and 6:30 but it's recently settled on 5:15 most mornings).

I've tried everything I can think of that I feel comfortable with but nothing worked. We've learnt to live with it. He's nearly 2.

I’m debating toying with his nap incase that is affecting the early wake ups but they vary so much - he has 1 nap a day now usually around 11am-12:45 (sometimes longer) but yesterday he napped from 11:15-2:45 (

I should’ve woken him) but I think I’ll just have to get used to being a very early riser!

OP posts:

achangeisasgoodas · 16/07/2020 06:57

Ah OP you have my sympathy, it makes the day seem so long doesn't it!

My Dd was a super early riser (she's 6 now and still occasionally wakes 5:30 ish but mostly we make it to 6:30!)

The only thing we did which helped with her was going in an hour before her wake up (so 3:45 in your case) and rousing her slightly. She would then fall back into a deeper sleep and after a few days it broke the cycle. She is still naturally an early riser and any travel or clock change sets us back but we do get back on track quickly.

Good luck OP, hang in there!

HealingCalmingSoothing · 16/07/2020 07:08

This may seem an odd suggestion, and it relies on you getting you even earlier for a few days but do try as it was suggested to me by a health visitor and I could have kissed her when I saw the results.

Set you alarm and an hour before he is due to wake, go and arouse him. Not fully awake. Just gently touch him and say his name. So he opens his eyes but then goes back off to sleep again.

'Hopefully' after you have done this a few times he will sleep through and longer.

HealingCalmingSoothing · 16/07/2020 07:09

Sorry I've just seen the poster above me gave the same suggestion.

Good luck

firstimemamma · 16/07/2020 07:54

Hope it all works out op!

To the last 2 posters - interesting idea, one I am thinking about now! Thanks.

FATEdestiny · 16/07/2020 10:02

some nights it takes hours for him to go to sleep

This is the reason for your early morning wakes.

The pressure to resettle is lowest in the early hours. So when baby enters the light sleep phase (which is normal), unless they have a rock-solid self settling mechanism then they'll fail to stay in the light sleep and will wake up.

It's also exasperated by over tiredness.

How do you get baby to sleep at bedtime?

At this age he needs to be going from full awake to fully asleep in his cot, without any help. How you go about teaching him to do that depends on your parenting style, but all sleep training will have this same desired outcome.

mrsof20118 · 18/07/2020 20:25

Just to say had the same issue here. I don't necessarily agree that it's related to you taking hours to get your baby to sleep. Mine self soothes the majority and still woke up at 5am regardless including regardless of bedtime. It lasted around 6weeks for us but slowly seems to be improving to sometimes 5.40, sometimes 6.30!