Early Riser

jomo70

Hi..I'm normally on the OS page but I've popped over here for some advise.

My 13 month DS2 has always been an early riser 6-6.30am but the last few month its been 5-5.30am and today its been 4am!!!:eek:

When he starts crying I pick him up calm him down and put him back down awake, he is then quite for about 10 mins (at which point I've just dropped back off to sleep) and then he starts screaming again:mad: I leave him for a few minutes but due to DS1 3.5yrs being light sleeper I don't like to just leave him screaming....All these early morning don't do much for my pateince during the day, and being a stay at home mum I then feel guity...

Can anybody offer advise before I totally loose the plot!!!!!

ailuro2

Get some blackout linings on the curtains, or throw a spare duvet cover over them to help darken the room more.- our DD used to do this, was an early riser, but started getting up even earlier when it was middle of summer - which was a natural reaction to seeing daylight earlier.

ellies_angel

In addition,

• make sure the room isn't too hot or too cold,
• maybe try putting him down 1/2 hour later.
• is he waking up because he is hungry. Make sure he has a feed before bedtime.
• Have you changed to follow on milk? It is a drink and won't satisfy him like normal formula milk or even cows milk does
• put a couple of toys in his cot so he can play safely when he wakes while you sleep.
• has his day time sleeping pattern changed. As children get older they need less sleep during the day.
• if he wakes go through to him, speak softly to him telling him its not time to get up and he should be sleeping then say night night and leave, you may have to keep going back, but if you say night night at bedtime, he will know what you mean. Its not a good idea to pick him up, just speak softly hold his hand, stroke his face, but be insistent its still sleep time.

Good luck x

Titch89

He might be waking up because he needs a drink. Is it possible to give him a bottle of juice that he can have whilst he's in bed?

I've started to do a similar thing, which is probably related to the fact that it's summer and therefore, lighter in the mornings.

He could be hungry. If I go to bed on an empty stomach, I will wake up during the night and want some food.

I second what the other have said.

jomo70

Hi...Thanks for the advice, he has got blackout blinds and I do give him a drink but I think my problem is i get him out of bed and give him a cuddle to calm him so he doesnt wake DS1 maybe I should grin and bear the screaming and just stay in his room until he calms down.

dmg24

I take it he has woken early again? I do feel for you, I have a cat that does the same to me! x

jomo70

Hi DMG Makes me feel better knowing somebody else is roaming about at that gastly hour of the day!!

I did go back to bed, put DS in his cot and he eventually went back to sleep after me going in, what felt like a hundred times:eek: , in the end I left him to scream I felt awful, but when he woke up again at 7am he was as happy as larry and playing nicely by himself...oh well it can only get better

daphne_descends

It might not be ideal but would he go back to sleep if you took him into your bed?

Or you could try disturbing him about an hour before he usually wakes up - don't wake him completely, just enough to stir - apparently this disrupts the sleep cycle so they won't wake at that time - I am not brave enough to try this one though!

Sympathies, my 8 month old doesn't know what sleep is...

jomo70

Hi Fac

I have tried bringing him in to our bed (not really what I wanted) but he was such a fidget that I got no sleep and he kept OH awake too. I think I just bare children that don't sleep!!:o

somewhere_sunlight

Titch89 wrote: »

He might be waking up because he needs a drink. Is it possible to give him a bottle of juice that he can have whilst he's in bed?


OMG:eek:

Please dont do this. . . . think of his teeth

*Louise*

Ohhh...4am...that's an ungodly hour - was just getting to bed then after having DD screaming for hours (teething)

Will he settle again without you having to pick him up? Try patting/rubbing his back.

Offer him some water if he's thirsty...but again, leave him in the cot while he drinks.

Nothing worse than lack of sleep *goes out to buy matchsticks*