DD2 (2.7) waking at 4.45am no matter what I do. Advice please for tired mum.

[MaggsS]

Hi,

My DD2 is 2.7 and before Christmas she just stopped her 2 hour daytime nap one day and hasn't had one since.

That was bad enough but I knew it would come so excepted it.

Since then she goes up to bed at 7pm for a bath then into bed at 7.30pm.

She normally drops off quite quickly and sleeps well but has started waking up at 4.45 am on the dot every morning.

I am washed out.

She has always been a good sleeper up till then waking at 6 / 6.30am which was fine for me as I had to get up to get other 2 ready for school anyway.

What can I do to break this early morning habit.

Any advise for a tired mum please

That can't be fun. Is she hungry, thirsty, scared of the dark?

This may sound like the ultimate torture, but it does work...
Wake to sleep means you get up an hour before the time she wakes and just rouse her gently. Not enough to wake her, just break her sleep pattern. A few days of this and the habit should break. Make sure there isn't something external, though, like a neighbour getting ready for work and revving car, light somewhere. HTH. I have been up since 4 myself, though, but that's another [teething] story...SYMPATHIES!

Get's up and comes in to me as bright as a button so don't think she is scared. She also has always sleep better in the dark so only a small nightlight in her room.

She has a drink by her bed. As for hungrey she eats well during the day so not sure. She certainly doesn't come down asking for food.

Turtle23 I'll try anything I am so tired.

I cannot believe that she is not tired during the day. I am exhusted with 2 older children as well.

Have you thought about trying the bunny clock www.bunnyclock.com/? I haven't used it myself but have heard good reports - basically you tell our dd that if she wakes up and the bunny is still asleep she has to close her eyes and go back to sleep. She can only get up when bunny is awake - but she must not wake up and just watch it like a tv, she must really try and go back to sleep. May be worth a try...?