Hi! Does anyone have any suggestions of how to get my rambunctious little guy to sleep a little later? He used to get up at 7 AM, then 6 AM, now its 5 AM and that is just unbearable. Plus he wakes his 3 year old brother who is then cranky all day b/c he didn't get enough sleep. We're all stressed out and sleep-deprived. Except him- he's happy as can be. But he still often needs a morning nap, which he should have outgrown by now- so I know this wake up time is too early for him as well. I have tried making him skip the AM nap to re-set his schedule, hasn't worked. Any ideas are welcome! We need sleep!!!
My toddler did this last summer too (and also woke her big sister). I had a hard time until the days got shorter in the Fall but it did help to refuse her a morning nap. It was sometimes TORTURE to not let her nap but I wanted to limit her sleep during the day and like I said, it did help. Good luck!
J.
The same thing happened with my daughter and I hung a blanket over her window to make the room darker. Worked like a charm. I think it is the early summer sun.
Hi,
Sleeping is a habit, so usually the more you get the more you need. What time are you putting him to bed at night? Surprisingly you might try to put him to bed a little earlier, and don't give him a morning nap. You've just got to find the right schedule for him, and for you. I know I use to tell my kids to go back to bed or just let them lay in bed if they got up too early in the morning. They will finally figure out that you aren't going to run and get them and they will soon learn to go back to sleep for awhile.
C.
Our bodies naturally produce chemcials to awaken us with the sun comes up and make us tired when the sun goes down. Friday was the first day of the summer and the longest day of the year of sunlight. His body is completely normal. If you want him to sleep longer try room darkening shades so his body doesn't know the sun is up at 4:30am.
This is going to sound crazy but when my boys start doing that I put them to bed earlier. My oldest was doing the same thing and I gradually put him to bed earlier and earlier and he went back to sleeping until 6:30 or 7.
Hi H.!
I don't really have any advice to give you but I can relate. My 21 month old has done the same thing.Many toddlers go through sleep cycles pretty regularly. My daughter will sleep until 7 for what seems like months and then go through a few weeks of 5 or 6am wake up times. I think growth spurts and teething play a big part in this as well. I've tried the whole changing bedtime thing too and it has had zero affect on her wake up time. So hang in there.. it will change soon!
Have you tried letting him wait in the morning? He might go back to sleep if you leave him alone... Also- you could try cutting the morning nap short and moving the afternoon nap earlier... Look into the Ferber book called Sleep Solutions- they may have some other ideas you could try...
