BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: wyattsmom on August 01, 2006, 11:08:59 am
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:'( Hi all! I am here because I am in need of some help!! My 20 month old has suddenly started waking at 5:45am every morning. I have tried several things (later bedtime, earlier bedtime, going in and laying on his floor and telling him it's too early, etc) and nothing seems to be working. I was a follower of BW methods from the time he was born and he's ALWAYS been an awesome sleeper.
His NORMAL schedule was wake at 7am, nap at 11am, bed at 6:30pm. He seemed to want to nap later in the day the last month or so, so he was napping around 1pm for a few weeks. Then the early wake-ups started.
His CURRENT schedule is more like wake at 5:45am, nap at 10:30am to around noon, and bed around 7pm. He is tired and yawning by 9am and after his nap he is usually a mess by about 5pm now. I don't know what to do!!
Any ideas/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance for your help.
Natalie
Wyatt 11.18.04
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Early wakings can be caused by overtiredness. From his current schedule, I'd say that's the culprit.
Going from 12pm to 7pm between nap and bedtime is too long. I would push his nap back slowly in 15 minute increments every three days to a more "acceptable" time of 11:30am or 12pm, and in the meantime put him to bed early - like 5:30pm or 6pm. Believe it or not, an earlier bedtime really can help with early wakings because that way he won't be overtired before going to sleep at night. Even if it doesn't solve the early wakings, he'll be getting another hour or so on the front end so should help with the crankiness if nothing else.
HTH!