help me with a 2 year old early riser

[mumofangels]

help help help, my 2 yr old daughter wakes up practically every day between 5 and 5.30am!!! i've tried controlled crying, i've tried rapid returning with continues til 7 when we get up, i've tried cutting out her daytime nap, tried giving her warm milk but she won lt drink it! she's in a big bed with a gate at her door. can anyone give me any ideas, can't seem to find anything on any forums or books!!!

what tiem does she go to bed? as my ds was going to bed at 7 and by 5 had his 10 hrs required hours of sleep

moved it to closer to 8 and he sleeps through till 6 some morning still till 5 but if they have ahd enough at that time will be hard to get back to sleep

give some interactive toys to play with so you can have bit extra in bed the recommended hours of sleep is 10 htrs for this age

we've tried to put to bed later, she's in bed for about 7 but she can't last after that really. you could set you watch by her for bedtime. I've put all sorts of toiys and she just wants out of her room and crys at her gate until we go to her!!!

My DS is an early riser - we've had more than our fare share of 5.30 starts. We've started ignoring him till at least 6 and he is gettng the messge.

Cutting out day time naps and making sure they have a swim/really good run around in the afternoon seems to help ensure that they sleep a little longer...

Unfortunately, she will wake up when she wakes up - and I speak as one whose DS has at 5 only just started waking up closer to 6.30 than 6 some mornings of the week. He had his 5.30 mornings as well.

You might just have to alter your routine a little so that it compromises with hers - getting up at 6 am perhaps so that you meet her half way. DS has learnt now that he cannot wake us up before 6 during the week and 7 at weekends although is still by no means reliable with this.

I don't think controlled crying or rapid returning are going to do any good at all at that time in the morning since she doesn't need more sleep - you'll have to ride it out until she's old enough to understand about amusing herself for an hour or so.

I killed this thread

We often have DD in bed with us from 6 and stick on cbeebies for her until we are ready to get up - normally between 6.30-7. She is often up about 5.30 but now it is dark can be persuaded either in bed for a cuddle or back to her own bed with a story tape on which lasts about half and hour.

Sorry, can't really help. I do think that some children are just early risers.

hi mumofangels,

I know how you feel. Our 2yr old DS was waking for a long time at a similar time a while back. It lasted quite a few months, nearly 6 months actually. Its desperate and like you, i tried all the tips out there. None of them worked really except I would go into the room and put on some music for him. I am glad to say he has now grown out of it and will sleep most days until 7.30. Hopefully the phase will pass soon for you all.

Is your dd active during the day? Another thing you could try is have her do some activity in the afternoon which may help to tire her out. Good luck.

My DD 2.6 goes to sleep at about 9:30pm and will wake about 7:30 - 8am so I think you will have to delay bedtime if you want a later morning. As much as I don't love the late evenings I prefer it to early mornings.

thanks everyone, looks like just gonna have to ride the storm. my DS used to do the same and frm starting nursery it stopped. she's really active but hopefully will go to nursery next sept so only another 9 onths to go!!!!!