Toddler randomly started waking up at 5am

[CitrusHaze]

5:10 to be precise. On the dot. Every morning.

Thing is she's never been a particularly early riser (usually sleeps something like 7.30/8 - 7/7.30) but she's just got over chickenpox and since then for the last 2 weeks has been up at 5:10 every morning, but clearly still tired?!

We have tried earlier bed, later bed (once, it didn't go well) and nothing seems to change this weird internal alarm clock she seems to have developed.

Obviously it's not ideal for us but the worst thing is she's knackered. Bags under her eyes, wakes up SO ratty and is falling asleep in the car if we go anywhere.

Is there anything we can do or just wait for it to pass? She's 3 and doesn't really nap regularly any more, definitely not in the week at nursery. We've been letting her have a couple of hours nap at the weekend when she's with us but it's 5:10am up whether she's napped or not the day before..

Both of mine have done this.

Keep the illusion it’s night time, even if you sit in silence laying with her. Don’t take her down and start your day. I would resist going to them unless they’re really distressed.

Is she told enough for a gro clock?

Yeah she's got a gro clock which is set to 7am but she's just getting out of bed and wide awake.. just REALLY ratty!

It's normal.
Feed her cereal, keep things quiet and low key. No TV or exciting games. Cuddles.

When it gets to 7, step up the vibe as if you were getting up. Put some lively music on and start getting ready.

Maybe get an earlier bedtime yourself to stave off sleep deprivation?

It’s rubbish but clocks will change soon so it’ll sort it out a bit. I’ve found mine do this in phases and there’s not much I can do about it, to my dismay.

Thanks guys yeah we will keep it quiet / dark. She's just coming into our room angry which doesn't help with calming her down..

Yes bed time last night for us was 8.30 . Feels like the newborn days again!

This happened with my next door neighbour, it turned out there were birds nesting in the guttering outside the baby's room.

@FishChipsMushyPeas no way!!! I'm willing to try anything at the minute so might get my husband to check...

7 is too late IMO for the gro clock, it will lose meaning if it’s too ambitious.

Yeah so when the little birds were waking up and cheeping away, it was waking up the little one. My neighbours couldnt hear it from their room.

I’d set the gro clock for 6 (7 is too ambitious) but be really strict about it so she stays in her room, in the dark, until then. Put her back to bed as many times as necessary. Then at 6 be really enthusiastic and cheery about getting up. The message should sink in after a few days. And in a few weeks the clocks will change and 6 will become 7 and hopefully you’ll be sorted.

Ok good idea thanks. Will change it to 6am and be strict about going back to bed until then. The clocks changing is a great point - couldn't have come at a better time!