18 MO & almost 4 year old very EW

[JenBalt]

My DS is 18 months old and he has never been a great sleeper. My problem is he wakes up WAY too early usually around 5:30, yesterday it was 4:45. I know he is still tired when he wakes up because I have to hold him or he cries when I put him down. He goes to bed around 7:15-7:30. So he is only getting 10 hours of sleep at night. He usually takes one nap during the day around 12 or 1 and only sleeps for about an hour. So I know he isn't getting enough sleep. I just don't know what to do.

My DD is almost 4. She doesn't nap during the day, I try to have quiet time, but she will not sleep. She goes to bed around 7:30-8 and also wakes up around 5:30. I know she is tired too, but I don't know what to do to get her to sleep more.

I need help... Thanks

[Mama2boys]

Hi there,

could it be the light? my DS had also started waking up at around 5 but with better curtains he is managing 6 now....

HTH
Mukta

[Layla]

Jen, for both I would do an earlier bedtime

With the 4yo, I would put her down around 6.30-7pm and see if that helps with the early wakings. Also what worked with my 3yo was to give her a cue that its time to wake up,etc.. and with her we put a night light on a timer and I set the timer to 6.20am. Even if she wakes earlier than that time (which does happen), she will stay in her bed until the light comes on, and thats when she's allowed to come out of her room and wake me up. But I really think an earlier bedtime would help... especially if you can see that she's still tired and needs more sleep.

With the 18mo, I would do a nap around 11.30am and he might sleep longer than an hour. If he wakes still an hour into the nap, try to resettle him to get him to sleep longer... and if it doesn't work, then you're probably best to put him down for the night around 6pm. How does he fall asleep for his nap and at night? When he wakes an hour into the nap, do you get him straight away or do you give him a chance to resettle?

Layla

[JenBalt]

I am going to try an earlier bedtime tonight and I will put my 18 mo. old down for his nap earlier. For his naps, I usually wait 10-15 min. to go in after he wakes and he never falls back to sleep. In the morning, I hate to let him cry b/c then he wakes DD up. As far as falling asleep he does great. I lay him down and usually will cry for a min. or two, but then he falls asleep on his own.