18 MONTH OLD - EARLY WAKING

[JSavage]

Hi, I am new to this website, so apologies if this goes in the wrong place!
My LO has always been generally a good sleeper and we have followed the baby whisperer since he was 6 months old. We have always worked hard on keeping a routine and feels it work well for us. Until recently our routine was:
6:45/7: wake up
7-7:30: breakfast
12:30/13: sleep (up to 2 hours)
17:00: Tea
18:30: Milk
18:45: bath and bedtime routine
19:15: bed asleep by 19:30/19:45

He has in the last three weeks had signs of teething but this has now seems to not be bothering him. He seems to be waking anytime between 5:30 and 6:30 and wont resettle.

I have been thinking of wake2sleep? I thought the method in the book was to stir them 1 hour before their wake up time i.e. 4:45am, but having read a thread it is only suggesting 10 - 15 Min's before. I'm confused? Can you shed any light?

Any suggestions as to why this has happened and what we can do, would be appreciated.

[becky1969]

Well, hopefully someone will stop by who's a bit more knowledgeable than me about WTS. I never used that technique, so can't speak to it.

As for WHY, my guess is overtired.  You're getting about a 10 hour night's sleep, which at our house almost ALWAYS means overtired.  When my son is teething, he gets extra tired and I've found I need to put him to bed a good 30 minutes earlier until he's over the worst of it.

I think I'd be inclined to try an earlier bedtime and see what happens. Could be your DS will just chat for that half hour, or he may fall asleep and get the extra rest he might be needing.  That's my best guess! I know putting them to bed earlier when you're having EWs is scary, but it often works. Might be a simple thing to try.


Now, hopefully, someone will answer your questions about WTS! 

[JSavage]

Thank you for replying so quickly. You're right it is rather scary putting him to bed early so that he sleeps longer - it somehow seems wrong, but I understand that it works!
Will give that a go and then if that doesn't work, I might try the W2s.
Thank you so much 

[becky1969]

Have you tried soothing back to sleep at the EW too?  That usually worked for my son.  Sometimes they just go thru a short EW phase, and just need a little help to re-settle. Teething will often do it.  You could also try giving a little Tylenol or Motrin at that waking and see if that helps.  I think at 10 hours they must have a super light sleep, so if they are in the least bit uncomfortable it wakes them.


Good luck! I'll check back to see how it goes with the earlier bedtime! Give it at least 3 days, BTW. That's the least amt of time it takes their body clocks to adjust to changes. 

[JSavage]

Yes have tried, even puting teething gel on or giving calpol doesn't seem to work because I t hink by that time he has gone past being able to settle.

Last night I  did w2s and woke him up at 5am and he slept through to 7am! However today he is so so tired he went to bed before lunch and slept for an hour but now is really tired so I think we will be having an extra early bedtime - 6:30 perhaps!! scary! Will have to continue eith w2s too since you are supposed to do it for 3 nights in a row.
Will let you know how it goes, thanks for your support.

[JSavage]

Well, we did wake to sleep for three nights and it seemed to be working, but he slipped back into EW again quickly, so I have the past 2 nights put him down at bed 6:45-7 AND he has slept right through for 12 whole wonderful hours!!! Im so so happy since he is in such a better mood when he wakes up, it just starts the day off on good terms
He is definately teething, now a lump is there, He has been getting calpol and bonjela every day. I hope it wont be long before its through - poor boy.
Thanks once again for the advice. x