My 3yo has always been a great sleeper, bed by 7 up about 6. The 7 month old is a different story. She wakes regularly at night but is up and ready for the day at 5. A little too early for us! She goes to bed about 7:30pm. Even if she goes to be later she still gets up at 5. We take her out of the crib then because she likes to "talk" loudly and we want the 3yo to sleep later. She's not hungry (she eats once during the night) she is just awake and ready to go. The room is dark and there is white noise. She takes a morning nap around 8 (for about 1 hour), afternoon (2 hours +) and a short evening (1/2 hour).
my youngest was like this. I was able to get up and go downstairs put him in the playpen and rest on the couch sleep but not really sleep. He is now 3 and sleeps 7-7
I'm sure this will not be encouraging, but my 2 1/2 year old is/was just like this. He went to bed @ 7-7:30 and got up every day at 5:00 and he was UP. We put him to bed later, and he still got up at the same time, but was just more tired and more crabby. He was just excited about starting his day.
He is STILL an early bird, getting up @ 5:30 at 2-1/2. We now take turns getting up with him and watching Dora. He will sit still and eat a breakfast bar or cheerios and watch tv.
I sympathize, though, because it was REALLY hard when he was smaller and in to everything and on the go and you had to chase him around the house when you were exhausted and still half asleep.
The only thing that did help was shutting his door. He seemed to stay in there longer when the door was shut and he didnt think he could just get out and go around the house on his own.
Good luck! And just think, some day she will be 13 and you will not be able to get her out of bed... :)
Sorry no advice just commiseration. My son is just like that. He is just an earlier riser and there isn't anything that we found that will change that. I go to bed early (9:30 or so) or I nap with my kids if I am really exhausted.
I would cut out the short evening nap and give her an earlier bedtime- say around 6:30 or so.
Is there anyway to let her talk until you are ready to get her up? Otherwise, she just learns that that is the time to get up. I remember that as a phase with my 2.5 yo, but luckily my 7 mo hasn't done that yet. :)
All I have to say is Good Luck! Both my children always fell asleep around 6-7 but are upat 4-5am. As they got to toddler stage they are now 7-6am but Im the only mom whos kids dont sleep in till 8 pm or later.
It will be awhile for them to sleep longer but trust me, its going to suck and all I can say is I been there too. Your not the first nor the last to go through this.
