Hello,
My son has recently started waking habitually at 4:30 AM. I don’t mind his 6 AM wake-up time, but at 4:30 he isn’t waking up happy as he does when he’s rested and really ready to wake up (which used to be between 6 and 7 AM).
How old is your child? 10 mos.
What’s his/her daily routine?
4:30 AM – wakes unhappy, can be calmed sometimes but not always by cuddling with me – I resorted to nursing a few times because I thought he was around his 9 mo. growth spurt, and he nursed heartily. Now he’s okay with not nursing and settled okay in bed with me the last few nights (nothing else worked).
6 AM – Wake for day, breast feed both sides
A – Quiet play, dressing for day, etc. until 7:30 AM when we leave for school (DH and I are teachers and we have daycare on campus)
E - 8 AM –breakfast (solids) at school
A – plays, goes out for a walk, etc.
S – Goes down for a nap anywhere from 9 – 10:30 depending on routine at school (if they walk or not), naps for about 45 min.
E – Breastfeeds, usually after nap around 10:30 or 11 AM, but sometimes before nap (just recently) as they’ve been going out for walks since the weather is nice
A – until noon, when he eats a solid lunch
S – Nap starts anywhere from 1 – 2:30, usually and lasts and hour to an hour and a half
E – Breastfeeds around 3 or 3:30 and we leave for home (or park, grocery store, etc.)
A – Until dinner time at 5
E – Solid dinner at 5
A – Until we start our bedtime routine at 7 (get into PJs, breastfeed, story time, into crib)
S – Asleep by 7:30 or 7:45
Jack falls asleep pretty well, even on nights when he wants to stand in his crib. He rarely wakes between 7:30 – 11 PM, and only occasionally wakes between 11PM– 4:30AM, and during those wakings I can usually help him back to sleep within 15 mins. with some patting and a blankie adjustment. He IS waking at 4:30 AM. You could set a clock by him. He isn’t waking up happy as he had been when he was sleeping through until 6 AM. I go in when he starts to cry, which is pretty soon after I hear him stir. It’s not a mantra cry; he seems genuinely distressed. DH and I work, and after a few nights of trying to settle him, I gave up and now bring him to bed (yes, accidental parenting at it’s worst). He still doesn’t necessarily settle, which is unusual for Jack. If I tuck him in the crook of my arm, he will fall asleep with his head on my shoulder, but sometimes he will still seem restless for about ½ hour. This started when his bottom molars were coming in (just after 9 mos.). At the same time, Jack learned to crawl, stand and cruise (within a week). I also think the top molars are on their way now. So, there is a lot going on with my little man. Just before the bottom molars started coming in, we gave up the binky, which went pretty well. Jack falls asleep fine without it, at night and for naps (even at day care). He does have a lovie, his “blankie bear.” It can sometimes distract him but he isn’t always aware of it. I know we’re dealing with teething, milestones, possibly separation anxiety (I’m seeing mild instances of it during the day, but he recovers quickly)…Will this just run it’s course? I have considered wake-to-sleep but the first night I tried (2 nights ago), he woke on his own at 3:30, woke up fully, and settled again to sleep until…4:30 AM! I decided to wait to try again until Thursday night through the weekend. Any advice? Suggestions?
Thanks so much,
Karen