3 yr old wakes at 04;30 - 05:00 every morning

[OrchidPetalsFalling]

I can’t cope, it’s so dark and I’m so tired. He demands snacks in bed and never falls back to sleep.

It makes no difference what time he goes to bed. Last night it was 10pm and he was still up before 5am.

What can I do in this situation?

Grow clock and reward chart. Little beast.

Little beast is right! I think I’ve got his big bros glo clockmsomewhere.

Does it actually encourage them to go back to sleep or just keep them in their bed?

Oh I feel for you. Does he still nap? If yes, it’s time to drop it.

If not, can you get him to bed earlier? Sounds like he is tired.

Our almost 3 year old will wake early if he has a nap but he’s always been an early riser. Gro clock and reward charts just don’t work with him. Recently we’ve cut his nap and it seems to have got us a 6am wake up today but no doubt this will change as the childminder always puts him down for a nap!!

I assume you're not giving him snacks!

Same thing every time. Put back into bed, say it's still sleep time and ignore. Make no fuss, don't put lights on, just simply state it's still sleep time.

It’s the worst isn’t it? Mine was the same right up until starting school (sorry!) and then suddenly started making it to 7 on a regular basis which felt like heaven on earth. Before that a normal start was 5:30, a bad but not uncommon start 4:30.

We tried gro clocks and sticker charts and all sorts. Didn’t make a difference. Seemed like the body clock just had to sort itself out in its own time.

💐 and 🍷 to you!!!

Are you giving him snacks when he asks for them?

Snacks in bed seems like a specific thing he must have been allowed at some point, or it wouldn't occur to him.

Keep food in the kitchen/ dining room for starters.

I’m embarrassed to say I have been giving him snacks to try and keep him in bed and let me lie down for a bit longer!