VENT: 4-5:00 am wake-ups are killing me. Help!

ktpaladino · November 2013

Before the end of daylight savings, my son's usual wake up time was around 6-6:30 on average. When the clocks changed last week, he woke at 5:00 which I expected, but instead of getting better over the course of the week, he's not adjusting well and it's getting worse. Today's wake up time: 3:50 am. Anything before 5 is just really not acceptable in my book, but I've now gotten to the point where I'm thrilled if he makes it to 5:00. I've been trying to be patient over this past week because I know it takes a while for their body clock to adjust, but I'm getting really frustrated that it it's getting WORSE and not improving. I've tried tinkering with his bedtime and it seems like the later I put him down the earlier he is waking up, so I'm really at a loss. Ive tried everything to get him back to sleep in the morning- CIO (he's gated in his room), rocking, laying in bed with him, but he's wide awake and ready to go. I'm concerned he's not getting enough sleep because I've read that an 18 month old should still be getting 11-12 hours of night time sleep, but he is now only getting 9-10 hours and waking up cranky. I'm cranky and have no patience when he gets up whining so I start off the day yelling and our mornings this past week have just been terrible. He's napping at 10:00 am now which makes 9:00 am feel like the middle of the day and makes for really long afternoons. I've tried going to bed earlier myself, but I just can't get myself to sleep before 10:00 pm right now. I'm just having a really tough time with the transition and could use some words of encouragement, or tips on how to deal with this issue. Am I expecting too much too fast? Like I said, I'm just having trouble being patient since it's getting worse and not better.

aboynamedbarry · November 2013

Its a rough transition for sure! This time change used to be my fave... now not so much. I also have had the same experience with the later I put my DD to bed the earlier she wakes... and what works, consistently, is actually putting her to bed earlier. In your case, if he was sleeping approximately 11 hours before, put him to bed at 6, if he then sleeps til 5, well that's progress... becuz then he's catching up on his sleep deficit. Then, after several nights of good sleep slowly start moving back towards your normal bedtime

jnnfrrose6 · November 2013

DS has been waking around 5 for us too. As long as he isn't screaming or upset crying, I just leave him in his room until I'm ready to get him in the morning (during the week, a little after 6, weekends as close to 7 as I can get). What time is bedtime? You said you tried moving bedtime back, but have you tried the other way? It seems counter intuitive, but I've heard from others that it works for them.

I don't have any other advice, but just want to say I'm going through similar issues. This morning I got to listen to him make noise over the monitor for about 45 minutes before I was ready to get up. Not crying, just noise.

michelle615 · November 2013

You said you tried moving bedtime back, but have you tried the other way? It seems counter intuitive, but I've heard from others that it works for them.

This. It's worth trying. When DS gets overtired he doesn't sleep very well. Also, when he's getting sick or teeth he sleeps poorly and/or wakes up earlier than normal.

michelle615 · November 2013

Sorry jnnfrrose6 I meant to quote you, not copy you :-)

ktpaladino · November 2013

His bedtime is usually 7:30. I'm going to try around 6:45ish tonight and see if that helps. Thanks for the suggestion, guys! That just seems so stinkin early for bedtime, but I guess if others are doing it and having success, it's worth a shot!

traveltheworld · November 2013

I don't have any advice, but wanted to commiserate - DS has been having a tough time with the time change too and is waking up earlier and earlier. DH and I are both so tired!

ktpaladino · November 2013

Update: I tried to get him down at 6:45 last night but he peed all over his bed before I could get his diaper on LOL so, it ended up being a 7:00 bedtime once I got the sheets changed and all. He was up from 3:00-3:30 crying BUT then slept till 7:00! So 11.5 hours of sleep! I feel like a new person this morning and he woke up in a good mood. So thank you for your suggestions. I'm going to keep putting him down earlier for the next week or two and hope this was not a fluke! Then if we have more good nights like this for a while, I will start to very slowly push back his bedtime if needed. At least feeling hopeful today...thank you!

vamomtobe · November 2013

So glad you at least got one good night's sleep!!

aboynamedbarry · November 2013

Ya! That Is progress! And lol at the peeing!

beezybaby · November 2013

Another post supporting the earlier bedtime suggestion! This has saved us many times in the past year. Now we don't even put a limit on how early we will put LO down. I mean, she has gone to bed at 5:15 many times before, not to wake again until 7 the next day, even WITH an early afternoon nap. The moment she starts acting/looking tired, we start bedtime routine, and it usually results in an awesome night's sleep, and consistently later wake ups, even after we return to her "normal" bedtime which is about 630. (most people think this is really early for her age, but it works for her!)