Early waking

[ladybrady78]

Hi

I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the right place but any advice would be gratefully received.  My baby is 9 months old and has had a good bedtime routine since very young.  He is in bed by 6.30/7 and always asleep by 7.  He sleeps through the night but no matter what I do, I can't get him to sleep any later than 5.30.  This morning it was 4.45am.  I just don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Any ideas please?

Laura

[jessmum46]

Could you post your whole daytime routine for us?  Is he teething?

[ladybrady78]

Hi

He has 7 teeth through, I can't see any more but he may be teething.

Our routine looks something like this:

5/530 wake up 6/7oz bottle
1 hour later - breakfast (weetabix or porridge)
7.30/8 Nap (1hour- 1hour 15)  I have tried to push his awake time but he just gets really cranky and upset.
9.30/10 Snack
12 Lunch
1.30pm nap 1 hour
2.30pm snack
4pm dinner
6pm bath and bottle bed by 6.30 (he falls asleep independently)

Things are further complicated because I am back at work so two mornings a week he goes to nursery.  We leave at 7.30 and he usually falls asleep in the car, although I do try to keep him awake.

I'm beginning to think that he is just an early riser as he has never really slept long in the mornings.  It's just very tiring though I know that I am lucky because he does sleep through.

He has never been a good daytime napper and usually the best nap of the day is the first one which I always try to make sure is in his bed.

Thanks

Laura

[ladybrady78]

I should have said that he never wakes up crying, just always ready to start the day!  when I hear him I dont go in right away and he will happily play in his cot for 15-30 mins depending on how hungry he is.

Laura

[jessmum46]

I think although he gets cranky you need to push that first A time.  Generally if he is waking happy to start the day at that early hour (not technically an EW because he gets more than 10.5h night sleep) but then needing a nap only 2h or so later, at his age he is telling you he needs more A time.  At the moment that early nap is encouraging the early wakeup.  I would start pushing 10-15 mins every three days.  So not before 8am for three days, then not before 8.15am etc etc.  Really you want the nap starting well after 9am.  Do whatever it takes to push him that extra time.  It's likely you will get some OT naps to start with but push on through and bring his afternoon nap a little early if the first nap is really short.  There's a link to some sample routines here too chronological EASY samples, 7-9 months

[ladybrady78]

Thanks so much for your advice.  I had a feeling that putting him down so early wasn't helping.  I'll give your suggestion a try and will have a look at the sample schedules, which are great!

Laura

[jessmum46]

Let us know how you get on

[ladybrady78]

Hi

A wee update for you...after months of 5/5.30am starts, we have had a long lie until 6.30am for the past two days and today it was 7.45am!  I'm nervous to say how pleased I am as it's only been three days but long may it continue!

Thanks so much for your advice!

Laura

[jessmum46]

Yay!