Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

Original poster

How to stop these early get ups!

19 replies

MumLife90 · 05/12/2021 06:15

Hey all,

My DS has started to get up between 5 and 5:30!

He's not had a bottle during the night so I feed him but then he's awake for the day!

How can I extend it until at least 6:30!

Any ideas are welcome!

Thanks!

OP posts:
Pickandmix41 · 05/12/2021 06:34

Wish I could tell you but my DD is 3 and is still waking up at the crack of dawn. I've tried all sorts to no avail so have just had to accept she's a early riser. I feel your pain!

sparklytriceratops · 05/12/2021 06:42

I'm afraid there's really not anything you can do other than accept that's what being a parent is about!

I've been awake since 4.45am with my two year old...

They won't do it as teenagers!

GoodnightGrandma · 05/12/2021 06:44

If he’s waking up hungry could you try giving him supper before bed ?

MaverickSnoopy · 05/12/2021 06:47

They go through phases often. My youngest (3yo) at 5mo would wake at 3am and only sleep in my arms for about 2 months. Then eventually she would wake at 6.30am. For the last 5 months she's been waking at 5am. My other children have also had their moments. It's exhausting when you don't get the sleep you need.

I'd possibly suggest a dream feed. So maybe 11pm and then maybe he'll sleep longer. Equally, it can sometimes trigger something worse. He might learn to be up at 11 and 5! You just never know what you're going to get but sometimes you need to take a leap of faith.

Indecisivelurcher · 05/12/2021 06:52

You haven't said how old your little one is?

I once started a thread saying help ds wakes me up every morning humming black sabbath... We're on 6:10 since he started school and taking that as a win. Although I still hanker after 6:30!

Fancyties · 05/12/2021 08:31

How old is lo?
And nap routine?

Bobbybobbins · 05/12/2021 08:38

They will go through phases of this. It's only now mine are 8 and 6 that they have started 'sleeping in' til 6.30. Feels like bliss compared to years of 5am wake ups!

AliceW89 · 05/12/2021 12:54

Really depends how old your DC is. For us, 5am wakings have always indicated (with a degree of hindsight) that it’s time to drop a nap.

LakeShoreD · 05/12/2021 17:10

Tricky without knowing his age but I’d start by looking at:
Daytime calories, specifically if they have had enough during the day to get through to 6.30am without waking hungry. Note that this may not be realistic with a younger baby.
Daytime sleep - what time is bedtime, what is your nap routine like, could they be ready to drop a nap for instance.
Is there something waking them like is their room getting cold around that time, does the hot water kick in and make noise, are you under a flight path, that sort of thing… white noise could help.

HogDogKetchup · 05/12/2021 17:18

How much sleep is he getting? Either after of Earlier bedtime? earlier nap, how old? Would he understand a gro clock. We do stickers if he stays in his room

idontlikealdi · 05/12/2021 17:22

Nothing works for mine they're just early risers, so am I. It's better now but at ten they went to bed at 1045 last night as we were at a wedding. Got up at 550.

Original poster
MumLife90 · 20/12/2021 13:02

Hi guys,

Thanks for all the advice!

Sorry LO is 6 months old! His day time napping is awful! He sleeps for 30 mins max then wakes very grumpy and if I try to "extend" the nap it's just a wasted 20 mins of him laying in bed!

I'm just worried he's not getting the sleep he needs to develop and he's very aggy 30 mins after waking because he's so tired still!

I'm also shattered as I can't get anything done or nap with him as it's kinda pointless and makes me feel worse!

OP posts:
mewkins · 20/12/2021 13:06

How early do you let him nap in the morning?

TulipsGarden · 20/12/2021 13:08

Does he go back down for a nap within the hour? At six months mine woke for a bottle at 5am but then went back to sleep for a couple of hours. They get tired really quickly after morning wake up.

Original poster
MumLife90 · 20/12/2021 14:32

Thank you all! I've been trying to put him down there earlier than 8:30 for his morning nap, but the trend of 30 minutes continues throughout all of the day. Even if I keep him awake for two hours and he's absolutely shattered he will not sleep any longer for 30 minutes! He will go back down after his 530 bottle. But I was hoping he can go and extra hour, maybe asking too much!

OP posts:
Fancyties · 20/12/2021 15:09

Does lo have a dreamfeed? I have heard this can help with 530am hunger pangs.

Original poster
MumLife90 · 20/12/2021 15:27

@Fancyties no he doesn't. When would I do this? And how? Sorry if they are silly questions!

OP posts:
mewkins · 20/12/2021 15:34

I think there are a few tactics for dealing with this.....

When he wakes up stretch out the amount of time before you give him a feed. This may feel like you're waking him a bit too much but I think it would pay off if you can eek it out til 6am to start with.

Also, do you think he is awake for the day at 5.30? Or still sleepy and just waking for a feed? If waking and up for the day I would be strict about stretching out the nap until 9am (you can do this in increments).

I think the morning nap is considered very similar to nighttime sleep so you kind of need to watch how many morning naps are happening as that could be interrupting his night sleeps x

Fancyties · 20/12/2021 15:35

Literally before you go bed about 10/11 pick lo up, some say do nappy change as may reset them into sleeping past 530am. As nappy will be less full.

If you don't want to do nappy change. Pick lo up and pop bottle in mouth. I used to wind my lo as found she would wake with windy belly. Then lay them back down.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page