15 month old wakes for the day at 4am

[LoveYouHoneybear]

I've posted about her early wakes before, and I am posting again because I feel so frustrated and alone. My daughter is 15 months and routinely wakes at 4 or 4:30am for the day. Sometimes even 3:45am. There is no resettling! She just screams bloody murder until we get her up. I try changing her diaper, giving a bottle, stay and support, Ferber. Nothing works. She just screams and screams and then needs a nap around 8am because she is shattered. Bedtime is 6pm because she is so tired- usually has two 45 min naps during the day. I'm struggling so much and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Can't thank you all enough for these tips- I hope this thread helps another parent with those gruelling early wakes.

Just need to update again because this is so unbelievable- she wakes at 7:30am now. Even 8am one day! And is now on one longer afternoon nap. She is such a happier baby and I am a happier mom. Thank you all again. x

Absolutely loving this update!!

Yay!!!!!

Hi, in a similar boat really struggling to get to 1 nap with my 16mo as she keeps waking up too early for 1 nap.
Wakes twice in the night for BF.
There's quite a lot of advice in here, can I ask what you did? Was it consistent 7pm bedtime?

@Geranium1984 Yes! Consistent 7pm bedtime (she was previously going down at 6pm or so) and I would cap the morning nap at 15 mins! She didn't like that, obviously, but I would just whisk her off to do something fun outside. Within a couple days, she was sleeping longer in the morning and now she doesn't need the morning nap because she is sleeping until 7-8am. I hope this helps you!

My daughter did this, with work thrown in I was so exhausted. I went with it, tried not to worry and eventually it fizzled out and they are an amazing sleeper now!

Sorry just seen your update. That’s brilliant!

@1AngelicFruitCake yes, everyone in my family was telling me it was just something she would grow out of (or worse: "maybe she's just an early riser?" 😂) and I imagine she would've grown out of it eventually! I was just so beaten down after waking up at 4am for the day for the better part of 4 months, I had to try something! And thankfully the advice here helped!

@LoveYouHoneybear thanks! I'll try both of those things.
I actually capped the morning nap at 15mins this morning so will keep it up with a decent window to bedtime 🤞
I can't believe you're getting 7-8am sleep ins!! Unbelievable

Get proper sleep training advice. I used Kimmys little stars on Facebook. Amazing lady.

Hi, I’m abit behind you my baby is 15 months now, 15/05/24 is her dob and she’s been waking at 5 for months!!! No matter what I do, I’ve tried everything and now since 14 months she’s been waking at 4am what did you end up doing? Did anything help you?

assuming you have black out blinds already?
can you bottle feed in the dark and cosleep or will she scream

@Unexpectedlysinglemum hi are you answering me? I’ve tried everything, I bring her in with me after feeding and changing no luck, I feed and change and put her back down no luck, I bring her in with me with no feed and change no luck, it’s pitch black in there aswell as outside!!! X

@Daniellareeves how long is her night time sleep?

Around 10 hours and 2-2.5 nap in the day. Typically it looks like
4am wake up

8:30-9:30 nap

1:30-3 nap

6:30/6:45 bedtime. Xx

10 hours is normal for overnight sleep, a baby that age will sleep around 11-14 hours in total over 24 hours so your daughter is doing exactly that.

What time are you hoping for her to wake up if 10 hours is her normal sleep period?

@legoplaybook not 4am 😂😂😂 even 5:30-6 would be great, do you suggest a later bedtime? I have tried it before and she still woke at 5 (when she was waking at 5 everyday anyway) but Im happt to try anything! X

I think you need to be realistic, your baby is not going to sleep 12+ hours in one go! You either get an early night or a later morning, not both.

If you change her routine you need to do it gradually and change the whole routine not just bedtime and you need to be consistent - a one off late bedtime isn't going to do anything.

First nap 9.30, second nap 2.30, bedtime at 8pm. Move everything starting with the first nap by 15 minutes later every couple of days.

Actually at 15 months I'd drop the morning nap entirely, keep her going til lunch time and then have a nap 12-2pm.

@legoplaybook i don’t expect her to sleep 12* hours I said 5:30/6 wake up time, so I’m not being unrealistic. 4am isn’t a realistic time to wake up hence me reaching out

Thanks

6am wake up is unrealistic with a 6pm bedtime though!

Nothing you can do except go to bed super early too

@legoplaybook ivw been doing 7pm bedtime the last 2 nights and obviously she’s still waking at 5 how long woukd you give it? I tried to drop morning nap and she fell asleep in the car on the way to “keeping her busy/awake) so I really don’t think she’s ready for that drop yet!