When will I sleep again?

[LadyPropane]

My 2 year old got up at 4.40 this morning. Sometimes it's 5, and if I'm REALLY lucky she might sleep in until 5.30. my 10 month old will often sleep in until 6.30 which sounds bloody luxurious to me. Some days she's up at 5 with her sister. Hooray.

So the obvious question - how on earth do you get them to stay in bed until at least sunrise?! Is such a thing even possible? I've tried putting them to bed later but even after a few weeks of doing this consistently it didn't alter the wake up time, it just meant they were both very tired and grumpy all of the time. They've both always been very early risers.

Help!

Of they wake at midnight how would you settle them, you could try this at 5am. Black out blinds/curtains. A little drink when they wake

Ouch! Im afraid the early riders I know didn't tend to grow out of it for some years. Blackout blinds etc helped, but they rarely slept past 6am even then.do they go to bed well in the evening? Can you and DH alternate early morning starts?

They are good at going to bed. They are usually exhausted by bedtime, presumably from getting up so bloody early! Bedtime is usually just story, good night kisses, bottle for the baby, and then lights out.

DH and I take it in turns to get up with them when he's off work... Which is almost never. He's a doctor in our local ICU, and his already busy job has become crazy since covid kicked off. Days off are rare.

The thing I find frustrating is that they are both clearly tired in the mornings. They could do with staying in bed another hour or so. My 2 year old often complains to me that she's really tired, about 10 minutes after she gets up

What time do they go to bed and what naps does the 2 year old have?

I think this is fairly common. I definitely had a period of DC waking at 4 or 5. Basically popped Milkshake on and went back to sleep (she was next to me in bed). It feels like forever but it does pass. No helpful tips. Just remember one day they will be a teenager and sleep until noon!

My DD 9 now sleeps until 8ish on non school days, 7.30 for school so it will get better.

I had an early riser like that, years I saw 4:30 am... She started settling down about age 5, she's 7 now and it's between half 6 / half 7 generally...

They go to bed at about 7pm and the 2 year old doesn't nap. She's never been a great sleeper. She usually starts the night in her own bed and then comes and sneaks into my bed in the night. I don't mind this at all, but sadly her being in my bed doesn't seem to result in her sleeping for longer.

This morning was 5.30. I woke to her jumping on top of me and singing Old MacDonald had a farm.

We use a gro clock and stair gate on her bedroom door.if she wakes up and stars are still out she has to go back to sleep ideally, or play in her room. She can call for me when sun comes out at whatever time i have set

I would see if she can have a nap/sleepy time watching a favourite film about 1pm so you can shift bed time later or at least have a less tired child.

If you are desperate enough (I was) you could look into retained reflexes - retained Moro reflex causes extra high adrenaline levels ='not needing sleep...