91/2 month old suddenly started waking at 5am! help

[shoobaloo]

DS is 9 1/2months old and usually sleeps from around 6 / 6.30pm right through until the same sort of time in the morning. But all of a sudden he's started waking up at 5am and it's killing us! Any ideas on what's going on or how to get him to sleep in till 6.30 again? It doesn't matter how late we put him down at night, he still wakes up at the same time! TIA

[piglit]

Ds2 (8 months) has been waking ready to start the day at 4/4.30 for weeks now. We have black out blinds etc but to no avail. Sorry I can't offer any advice (other than to go to bed at 9!) but just wanted to sympathise. I'm just hoping it's yet another phase.....

[welshmum]

Our ds (13 months) has decided to opt for a 5.30 start with the odd attempt for 5.15...it's bloody awful.
If we didn't have dd (4) then we'd let him yell but one of us is up with him now every day. From what I remember they do this for a bit - especially the first summer and it does stop quite soon.
Not much help when you're in the middle of it though.
I look and feel awful at the moment so am happy to moan along with you.
Little sods, thank goodness he's a very gorgeous boy

[shoobaloo]

I agree it's hard to remain p*d off at DS when you go into his room at 5am and he's standing up in his cot grinning at you! Still though, I'm blooming knackered!

[katierocket]

My DS has always done this - there are tons and tons of threads about this - search the sleep archives. Sorry to say that nothing really helped it - black out blinds, bunny clock etc. He still gets up early now - 6am and he is 4.5

[welshmum]

Are you and your dp taking it in turns to get up with him? I know it sounds bleedin' obvious but the thought of a lie in the following day can keep you going.

[KKK747]

Hi - I've got nothing helpful to add - but you are not alone - ds has now been doing the 5am thing for 3 months - and its killing us too. Also started work again this week and by 9am at my desk have already put in 4 hours! If anything at all works pleeeease post here and tell me what to do!

[Elf1981]

I posted exactly the same thing last week! My dd is 9 months old today and has been waking frequently in the night.

Lots of help from other mumsnetters, and also I got the newsletter from Pampers yesterday pointing out that babies start to have restless nights due to:

PAMPERS:
"If you're suddenly experiencing broken nights again, this may be because your little one is developing new anxieties in her daily life. In the past few months, she has probably started to show some shyness towards other people, and become more clingy than usual as a result. This can be a tricky time to handle, but it is a normal and healthy stage in your baby's development. As her social world expands and she learns to move around alone, she gradually starts to fear the prospect of being separated from the principle person who provides her with love and security. She has a naturally strong urge to explore, but doesn't yet feel confident with this new-found freedom. The anxiety your baby might be feeling right now can sometimes affect her sleep. By calling you to her bedside each time she awakens to find herself alone, she is reassuring herself that you're still around. Don't despair, it's only temporary, she will just need a little more patience and encouragement than usual while she passes through this phase of uncertainty. It won't be long before she begins to feel more confident again, and the quiet nights return."


Not very helpful but it gave me something to focus on rather than wondering why!

[JoshandJamie]

My DS is 9.5 months too but he's always woken early. However, for the last few weeks, it's been uncanny. At EXACTLY 5:00am he makes his first gurgle - and thus begins our day. It drives me nuts.

[sandradee]

Do you not think it might be to do with the lightness in the morning? DS has started waking earlier in the last few weeks despite having a black out blinds (they are not 100% blackout. I'm sure that this is what it is since DS is usually such a good sleeper. That coupled with the birds etc make sthe mornings quite noisy and light!