Tired of seeing 4:30am everyday

[PixieBoom]

Hi all, first time posting so hope I’m doing this right!

My 9mo DS wakes at 4:30am everyday, 5;30 if I’m lucky, 3:30 if I’m really unlucky. He’s not interested in a bottle, he’s just wide awake and ready for the day. I try to get him back to sleep but after an hour of trying I’m too exhausted and give up.

I’ve always followed his cues for everything, I’ve never scheduled naps and just put him down for one when showing signs of tiredness. But I’m thinking is this what’s causing the sleep issues? I did schedule naps yesterday but he still woke at 4:30 today, then partner looked after him and he did he fell asleep at 7am, so that’s the nap schedule buggered for today!

DS is also incredibly active, never keeps still, and it is killing me. I am 4ft 11 and not very strong and I hurt all over. My back is in pieces and my energy is completely depleted. I’m struggling to pick him up he’s so heavy. Anyone else?

Not sure what the purpose of this post is but just want to feel I’m not alone. I don’t have any mum friends to talk about this stuff with x

I know it's tough tough tough, but that 7am nap needs to go.
Have you read about wake to sleep? Might be worth trying at 4.15 for a bit, and seeing if you can push things to past 5am.

We were well known by the park keepers the summer after DS turned 1. Park was nowhere near housing, but right next to nursery. We were there at 7am just after they unlocked the gates, and while they emptied the bins. Then I dropped him at nursery at 7.30 when they opened <YAWN>

Thank you for your reply! I’ve not heard of wake to sleep so will definitely look into that, thank you :)

is he in is own room? my dd did the same also at 9 months and i let her sleep in my bed from that 3/4am wake up and she’d sleep til like 9 - i know not everyone likes cosleeping but it saved me 😂

He used to settle back down if I bought him into bed with me but now he just crawls around and is excited for the day 🤣 I always said I wouldn’t co sleep but it saved me also during a sleep regression 🙏🏻

What time do you go to bed? Maybe go to bed later? And yes co-sleeping saved me too! Technically we have her own little cot mattress next to ours on the floor with her own blanket 😅. My daughter sleeps around 10pm and wakes up at 9am with a few feedings breaks. I used a method from Sleep Miracle, the link for it is in my Instagram (Sleepybabies2023) bio if you want to try :)

When DD did this I used to put some toys in her cot and just let her sit there playing and doze back off myself, would that be an option?

Does he cry get upset in his cot? If he is just awake but not to fussy I'd maybe leave him see if he falls back over. No bright lights on maybe give him his bottle in the cot or is he just not interested in milk?

I'm menopausal so I'm awake at 4.30 but with no baby and I'm shattered.

Not an expert but I’ve read somewhere that you need to give any change a week or so to see if it works. Like if you trial a later or earlier bedtime or following wake windows instead of tired cues, do that consistently for a week to see if it makes a difference. One off won’t do it. Also wake windows are more reliable than tired cues as the cues may be the same or very similar for tired va bored. Maybe double check what’s appropriate wake window for the age vs how long your LO usually lasts between sleeps.

We needed a later bedtime for a later wake up. Bed at 7pm, up at 5am. Bed at 9pm, up at 7am. We didn’t feel like zombies and we got to see more of them, especially once both back at work full time.