Waking up too early... seeking advice.

msasnitu

My six months old son used to sleep like a champ until 7 am every morning... but in the past few weeks, his wake up time has been creeping earlier and earlier. This morning he was up for the day at 4:45 am! We haven't made any changes in his routine, his diet hasn't changed, no big changes in our family... I can't figure out what happened, and I don't know what to do. I also have a toddler at home who is very active during the day, and I need some rest. Any suggestions? Please help if you have an idea.

emilys629

When he wakes up, is he crying? Or just awake?

If you keep going to get him earlier and earlier, he'll keep waking up earlier and earlier. I won't get my son earlier than 6 a.m. (unless he's crying of course). If he's just babbling, he can chill out in his crib until then. Set a line (7 a.m. sounds like it works for you) and stop going in to get him. 

JsMama11

I am having this same issue for the past week or so. Would love to see the responses.

oandmplus1

My DD has gone through this. She will typically wake up at 6:30 each morning, which is perfect timing for me to shower and get ready myself before getting her ready for daycare. However, somtimes she wakes up around 4:30 or 5:00 am. If she does, she usually isn't crying. I have found that if I let her babble to herself for about 15 - 20 minutes, she usually will fall back asleep on her own. I occasionally will just go in there to make sure she can reach her paci, rub her back for 2 seconds and I leave the room right away. It has worked almost 100% of the time (and sometimes she even sleeps longer than normal after that).

daniella2727

My daughter regularly wakes once and that time is anywhere between 4 - 6 am. I feed her and put her back in her crib. She either 1. goes right back to sleep or 2. plays around in her crib for 20 mins or so and then falls back asleep.  Is your baby hungry?

emilys629

daniella2727:

My daughter regularly wakes once and that time is anywhere between 4 - 6 am. I feed her and put her back in her crib. She either 1. goes right back to sleep or 2. plays around in her crib for 20 mins or so and then falls back asleep.  Is your baby hungry?

I should have mentioned that. If he wakes up BEFORE 6, I will go in there, change him, feed him and put him back down. Nine times out of 10, he falls right back asleep. After 6 a.m. is the point of no return (to fall back asleep), so that's when I let him babble. 

snoopy5512

I wouldn't change or feed before 6.  But that is my opinion.  If DD wakes before 6:30, I pretend it is the middle of the night and either let her work it out, or put paci in her mouth, rub her back for 1.2 seconds and leave.  She does not get picked up before 6:30 AM.  (unless she was freaking out....of course)

ITGurl0626

I definitely agree with the PPs who said to let your LO chill in the crib unless he is crying.  My LO started doing this & as long as she wasn't crying - I'd leave her in the crib until around 7am.  It lasted about a week & now she is back to sleeping like she normally did.

waterfall11

I agree with other about leaving LO in crib to chill but do have one other thought. How many naps is he taking? If he has 3 I might try cutting one out. DD has been in the transition period to 2 naps for a while now but the two things that helped most were to extend her waketime a little before first nap and even more before second nap and an earlier bedtime until she can handle being awake longer between second nap and bedtime (this has not equated an earlier waketime for us)

Snapdragon750

waterfall11:

I agree with other about leaving LO in crib to chill but do have one other thought. How many naps is he taking? If he has 3 I might try cutting one out.

 Why would this help?  Cutting out naps generally does not help night sleep last longer.  If anything it could have the opposite effect since cutting the third nap when LO isn't ready can push bedtime earlier or could lead to overtiredness.

 I agree with everyone else who has posted.  I don't go to mine before 6:30, unless she's really crying, and even then I still wouldn't let her get up for the day before 6.  I also learned that leaving her alone when she gets up too early lets her go back to sleep so that we can both be well rested for the day.