Hello, just looking for a bit of advice really. My (just turned) one year old has been waking up at 4.30/5am for the past six or so months. He goes to bed at 6.30pm. Usually, my dh or I give him a milk feed when he wakes, then put him back down again. He doesn’t go to sleep again, though. If we didn’t feed him, he would just cry until we went to him.
After his 4.30/5am feed he’ll spend an hour on and off, singing, whining and then eventually he’ll start to cry. He’s quiet for maybe 3 minute periods between his noises though, where I think he’s maybe back off to sleep - but nope. I usually get him up at 6am, by which time he’s had an hour to self soothe/fall back asleep but has not, and has become upset. By 7/7.30am, he’s absolutely shattered and in need of his morning nap. Before his nap, he’s very sad and grumpy so I know he’s still tired.
We’ve tried moving his bed time to 7pm, which makes no difference at all and usually means more night time wakings as he’s then over tired. He’s also incredibly sleepy by 6.30pm, so forcing him to stay up until 7pm is usually a disaster - even after a good afternoon nap.
I’m also 13 weeks pregnant with my 2nd and so these 4.30/5am starts are rough - I’m a light sleeper and so can’t sleep while he’s making noises/whining in his bed. Every noise sounds like an upset cry initially and wakes me right up.
He generally naps well during the day (1-1/2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon). He also has a black out blind in his room and plenty to eat and drink during the day. His room is the right temperature and he doesn’t feel hot or cold in his sleeping bag.
Google suggests putting him to bed earlier but 6pm seems really early?
I know it’s probably just his body clock and that there’s nothing I can do. I should probably count myself lucky that he generally sleeps through till 4.30/5am, but I just wondered if anyone has any ideas?