Why does she wake up at the same time every night ?

[TillyScoutsmum]

Its almost as though dd has an alarm clock in the cot with her. Every night at 10.40 pm and then 1.10 am she wakes up.

I understand about sleep patterns etc. but she doesn't go to sleep at the same time every night. Depending on when she's napped in the day - sometimes she's in bed and asleep by 7 pm. Sometimes we put her down later and she doesn't go to sleep for a while so it can be 8.30 before she's asleep.

Any ideas why she's waking ?

Habit...my DD used to do it, bang on 10pm every night.
I used to feed her then realised she woke just for the boob, so got DH to go into her and she packed it in after she realised she wasn't getting anything, then slept she through.

Is she crying when she wakes?

We had this with my DS and together with the HV, we put it down to a "bad dream" so we used to go in about 10 minutes before his wakeful time and gently stir him so he drifted out of a deep sleep but not fully awake, IYSWIM? After about 5 or 6 days of doing this, he stopped waking up.

We sometimes feed her if she won't settle back (especially after the 1 am one) but I don't think she's hungry.

She will often fall back to sleep if I pick her up and cuddle her but it can take an hour or so. If DP tries to settle her, she just screams her head off. She's great with him in the day time but only mum will do at stupid 'o' clock Little bugger

Its been going on for about 3 months now and I don't know how to break it

I do this, I'm very habitual with my sleep and woke at exactly 2 and 4 for approximately two weeks recently. The only thing that stopped it was DD waking me one night a number of times which I think broke the pattern. (My DD is also like this too but it normally only lasts a couple of weeks) I've never really actively tried to stop it but mishymoos idea sounds like it'd have the same effect that my DD had on me.

Sorry mishy x post

Yes - she does cry/scream. She sounds absolutely distraught so it could be a bad dream. Its just the fact that its always the same time that throws me

Will try waking her slightly 10 minutes before

Perhaps it's teeth or some kind of sep anxiety then. Can you put her in your bed and let her sleep with you for a few days and see if that helps?

Tilly

Snap - but 9.23 for Alexa. Its then touch and go as to whether she'll go back down.

9.23 - so weird, but she's very precise.

Her top two teeth have just come through - we always have a couple of really bad nights the day or so before they actually break through - then we go back to the usual waking twice.

Think it might be separation anxiety. DP is really loathe to put her in bed with us and I do worry that it will start a long term habit. DP smokes as well so not keen on co sleeping (although dd is 1 tomorrow so maybe its not so much of an issue now ?)

Don't put her in your bed. Use me as a test case for not doing it!!!!!

PJ - its horrible isn't it... I sit looking at the clock for about 10 minutes before just waiting for her to kick off

we co-slept (happily) with DD for months but she's settled into her own bed and sleeps through mostly these days no problem. It doesn't have to be a nightmare. We've always taken the tear free option and now she's happy and confident to do it on her own.

Ginger - I love you. Let's talk.

What time did you used to go to bed when you were co-sleeping? Did you settle her in the evening in her own bed?

Sorry Tilly, not hijacking your thread.

No probs PJ - will also be interested to hear about it

I'm running out of options and don't want to do cc

Have posted in Sleep - hopefully someone will respond!

my answer (a very long one)

over here