5 year old back to early wakes

[billandtedsexcellentadventure]

Just that really. Five year old starts off in bed but doesn’t stay there. Which is impacting mine and my husbands sleep. Will take him back to bed but then he wants us to stay with him. The past week of so we’ve had 5am wakes. He goes to sleep about 8. He’s exhausted. So am I.

I had a 5 year old like that. Got her a double bed and took it in turns to either co sleep in our bed or hers. We all got more sleep that way.

she always started the night in her bed. Eventually she stopped coming in.

I think I may have to do the same

At 5 he is old enough to play quietly in his room and not disturb anyone else

Get a clock that changes colour when it's wake up time. My 4 year old knows that when his is red he should try and go back to sleep but can get up when it's blue.

If he's getting up at 5am then maybe 8pm bedtime is too late. They can struggle to stay asleep all night when they're overtired. I'd do a few earlier nights to try and get him to bed before he's absolutely shattered, then once he's sleeping through again nudge it back a bit at a time until you're happier with the timings.

Is he waking several times through the night or just coming through at 5am?

Times vary. An be midnight and any time after that. He says he just likes having someone next to him.

‘No sweetheart, we can’t stay with you. It’s time for you to get more sleep. Sweet dreams, we love you’.

Leave. Repeat. Stay firm and you’ll crack it in a couple of nights.

Tbh my thinking is if he was in a deep enough sleep he wouldn't be waking and thinking that. Kids don't choose to wake up in the middle of the night so something else must be waking him. Several wakes can be under or overtired.