Up until a few weeks ago, my 10-month old son would wake up at 5:30 a.m. for a brief breastfeeding and then go back to sleep until at least 7:00 a.m. However, now he wakes up at 5:30 but does not want to go back to sleep! I can tell that he is still tired, but he just won't go back down. This makes him a pretty cranky little guy until his morning nap! I'm wondering if I should not go in there in the first place until at least 6:30? I think he just wakes up so early because this has been the pattern; I don't think he super hungry or anything. I should also tell you that he goes down easily to bed around 7:30 p.m. and takes 2 naps ranging from 40 minutes to 2 hours each, so I am not complaining overall. Any thoughts would be very much appreciated :)
Thanks to everyone for their advice! Here is an update. For the last 7 days, I have not gone in his room until at least 6:30. The first couple of days he totally cried from about 5:30-6:30, which was awful. The next few days he just fussed a little bit, and then went back to sleep. This morning, however, I think that he slept all the way until 6:45 without waking up. Woo hoo!!!!
A.,
So funny that you would write this: my 10 month old does the EXACT same thing (well, except for this morning, when he amazingly slept till 8 after his 4:45 nursing). I have nothing new to share, since I'm wondering how to fix it just as you are, but I thought I'd let you know that you are not alone. I'll be watching the posts to see if anyone has any good advice for us both.
Good luck!
I know a lot of people will say to put him to be later. I personally think that is the wrong answer. It does not matter what time I put my 13 month old down, she wakes at the same time. She did the same thing and would wake at 5:30 to eat and wouldn't go back down. I stopped going in there at 5:30 and she now sleeps till 7 am. I am not into crying it out and she never did. She would just fuss for a few minutes and fell back to sleep. Keep your early bedtime. Kids aren't supposed to stay up till 10 at night!! It is all about circadian rhythm!!
My son did the exact same thing at about that age. I remember I often just brought him in bed with me at that time to nurse because then he would go back to sleep. I wonder if it is because it is so light out now at 5:30? My son is now 2 (and I have a 6 month old) and I have noticed that if anything wakes them early (my husband getting up for work) they will not go back to sleep. Maybe some heavy curtains in his room would help? Does he cry at 5:30 for you, or would he play by himself? If he is content I'd say make him wait a bit and see how he does, he may surprise you and go back to sleep on his own.
The 5:30 a.m. nursing was the last one for us to drop when we weaned (at 15 months). For some reason he really liked that time of day for nursing, so if you son is similar it might be hard to make him wait.
Good luck.
J.
I have a 9 month old and if there is one thing I've learned, it's that nothing is ever for good. She has changed sleep patterns so many times. Just when you think they are on a schedule it changes. My daugther went through a period of waking up around 4:45 to 5 and wouldn't go back down either. Within 3 weeks or so she was back to a more sane time. I think it's hard when it's at that time of morning to let them go because they've already had a pretty full night of sleep, so they are ready to wake up, eat etc. My daughter wakes up around 6 now and is pretty good spirited until her morning nap as long as I keep her occupied. I just bring her downstairs to play, and when she starts getting fussy I change scenery and bring her upstairs for her cereal-after all this she's usually ready to sleep again. Just some thoughts, no brilliant ideas but I think the best option is just to realize it's not permanent and he should be back on track soon. Good luck.
Hello, A. i would suggest that you break the pattern that your son has been on. Try to put him to bed later in the evening, than he will be more likely to sleep later in the morning.
Our son has always been an early riser, but we find now that he sometimes wakes at around 4:30am and plays and then puts himself back to sleep and sleeps until his normal time (5:30am - 6am).
This is a product of the cry it out method though. We had to resort to that to end the middle of the night wake ups.
So I guess what I am saying is just leave him alone for a while and see if he goes back to sleep. Until he starts fussing he can be left ot play. However, this may not work if he is used to being soothed.
Blackout blinds may solve this problem. Another thought would be to shorten and eventually give up the morning nap.
