early wakings

[nilly]

our 23 month old is starting to get up earlier and earlier. he is in a big boy bed, and even though the door is locked, he still wakes and tries to get out and will just play. we try to but him back into bed, where he may fall asleep for another 20 min if we are lucky. today he was up at 5:30. he is waking up with a freash poopy bum, so i think that may be waking him up - the need to go??? also, he goes to bed at 7:00pm and has a 2 - 2:30 hour nap around 12:00.

any suggestions, or am i out of luck?
nilly

[irish3680]

Is he happy or cranky when he wakes in the am? How is his behavior during the rest of the day? His sleep needs may be dropping and he may only need 12-12.5 hours of sleep a day. I would try limiting his nap to 2 hours, so waking at 2:00 and keep the 7 pm bedtime. How long has be been in the BBB? It may still be the novelty of being in it and him being able to get out when he wants. In that case you may just need to ride it out. Sounds like the poop isn't helping. Will he go back to sleep after being changed? Ella will sometimes go through a phase of pooping at the worst times, but usually her body adjusts to a better time and the sleep disruptions stop. Good luck!

[sherip]

I am having a similar early waking problem, only son has ALSO shortened his nap from 2-3 hrs to 1hr. Joy! He's been in the big boy bed for almost 4 months, but this is just a recent problem. I am trying to push his nap later in the day (from 12 to around 1). I was given this suggestion by some moms.  Maybe that would help you instead of shortening the nap?

[nilly]

thanks ladies for the suggestions. i hate to wake him, so i will try a later nap first.

sherip, are you still putting you lo down at 7:oo?

irish, are you saying that they may only need 12-12.5 hours total sleep in a 24 hour period? my lo has always seemed to need more sleep than most.

thanks, nilly

[sherip]

Night before last, my son went to bed closer to 8, slept till 7!! Yay! However, he did wake up once at 3 and 5, but went right back to sleep. He still only napped for one hour yesterday(from 1:30-2:30), though. Last night he went to bed at 7:30, woke up at 6, but went back to sleep until 7:15. Yay! Today he fell asleep in the car at 12:45 (1/2 hr ago) so we'll see what time he gets up. The first day I tried the late nap, he was up early but the last two days seem to be working. When he gets up the first time (at like 5 or 6) I just go in to his room and lay him down in his bed and tell him its still night time and to go back to sleep. I also put up a new blackening curtain on his window so his room is pitch black. I would be happy if my son can get at least 12 hours of sleep in 24 hrs. He has been getting around 10 or so. I would prefer around 13-14 hrs though!! Especially as I have a 2 month old now, too - my sleep is pretty minimal! I need all the rest I can get!