5am is just too early to get up in winter...

[Scootergirl]

DS (6 months) wants to get up at 5am. He cries and cries until I plonk him on my bed with the light on and some toys - then he's happy as Larry. Of course, he's then knackered by 8am and has to go back to bed. I'd much rather he slept until 7ish (or 10am maybe... ) and had his nap later but he's not wanting to co-operate. Any tips?

[fullmoonfiend]

it's a swine, isn't it - one of my ds's was an early waker (unfortunately he never 'grew out of it...')

Can you feed him and gently but firmly pop him back into his cot? (with minimum fuss made of him and light off)

Or plan b is put a shoebox with 'interesting' little toys in which he can explore by himself when he wakes up? (he may be too young for this, sorry but worth remembering for when he is older.

Or lights off in your room and let him snuggle up with you so you can at least doze until a more respectable hour?

[CantSleepWontSleep]

What time does he go to bed? If he's managing a 3 hour stretch awake then it sounds like he's had enough sleep, so you might be putting him to bed too early for him. If we wanted our DD to get up at 7 then we would have to keep her up until at least 9pm!

[Scootergirl]

He goes to bed at about 7.15pm after the usual bath etc and he's really ready by then. If I just have to accept it then so be it. DH is back from five months in Afghanistan in a couple of weeks so I'll make him get up... he says sleep is foe the weak and I'm happy to concede weakness!

[sophiewd]

My nephew age nearly seven is still waking at 5-5.30 every morning. I think some are just early risers!

[TS123]

Have to agree. DS is 12 months and has done the same since he was 4 months. Still waiting for things to change . . . in the end, it's been us whose had to change . . change our bedtime and our attitude about it (ie - don't get frustrated, it doesn't help!). Many people will tell you you should put your early riser to bed later but personally, I think that's asking for trouble. That has been my experience and that's my 2 cents . . sorry if it's not the answer you were hoping for.

[fullmoonfiend]

my early riser is now nearly 9 years! TBH, if he goes to bed later, he wakes up even earlier - and is grouchy and horrid to boot! At least as they get older, they are better able to entertain themselves...these things are finite...then some new horrible phase starts LOL

[Scootergirl]

My daughter who's now 3 was an early riser too and I can vaguely remember seeing an awful of of sunrises with her... Obviously I was hoping someone was going to tell me a magic word to whisper to DS which would make him sleep until 8am but I don't think there is one... or is there??? I agree with TS123 though, putting them to bed later just means they're grumpier when they get up at 5am!

[CantSleepWontSleep]

That's not always the case Scootergirl - really does depend on the child. We adjusted DD's bedtime to suit the number of hours that she was sleeping at night, and it worked fine for us. She now (9.5 months) sleeps 8-6. If she's had a tiring day and goes to sleep at 7:30, she's up at 5:30. If we keep her up until 8:30, she's up at 6:30. Happy whatever the time (apart from when teething of course!).

[Scootergirl]

It's just mine who are little monkeys then! DD can go to bed three hours later than normal and STILL get up at 6.30am...

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Oh blimey - wouldn't fancy that much!!

[Scootergirl]

I know! And normally the reason she's allowed to stay up later is that either we've got people round or have been to a party... which usually involves alcohol... which usually makes me even less keen on getting up at 6.30! After one particularly racous night out when she was about 14 months (and asleep upstairs at a friend's not partying all night), DH had promised to get up with her but wimped out so I had to do it. Overcome with sickness, I rushed off to the loo only to be followed by DD who thought my hangover would be aided no end by her banging the toilet seat up and down on my head. Oh the joy

[TS123]

I'm in the same boat as Scootergirl. Mine will wake at 5:30am no matter when he goes to bed. Some kids are just much more easily adaptable than others. For example, my friend's kids had no problems adjusting to the time change at all. She put them to bed on the new time and they slept in the very next day! Not so with my DS!! FOr one week he operated on the old time (which meant getting up at 4:30am!!) He did eventually adapt so I guess it is possible to change any baby's schedule if you're that bound and determined -- it's just alot more work with some than with others.

[SusieR]

We had this problem and started to move DD morning nap later from 9 am to 10 am. This did help in the end and she now sleeps till 7 / 7.30.
Can you try and keep your little one awake a liitle longer each day?