ow i give up

[kiansmam]

As alot of you know i've struggled getting k to wake a bit later in the mornings and my mind is working over time trying to figure out why he's awake so early. This has been going on for a couple of months now and i'am now at the point where some days i can't see straight through tiredness.
Here's his routine
Awake 5am give or take 15mins
nap 12:30-2pm give or take 15mins
bed 07:15-07:30pm

His room is nice and dark and even at 5am in the morning his room is still dark. Any ideas plz

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

Hi kiansmam - (((Hugs))) - I don't know how much advice I can offer here, but can tell you that we go through the EXACT same thing.  Sam's schedule is almost identical.  We go through cycles where the WU is a bit later (like 6am after a 7:30 BT), but the past two weeks have been ridiculously bad.  We've also had some NWs next week. 

My DH laughs at me and it has become a joke because I am always saying it's because of Sam's teeth, but I really think it is...I don't know what else it could be.  Is Kian teething?  This has been going on since Sam turned 1 (on and off) and it was then that he started with his molars.  He currently has all of the molars in (as of last week) and has one canine to go (which is causing major issues now).  He is a very slow teether.  I am wondering if this is what is happening with Kian?   When he wakes, does he cry or is he happy in his crib?

Many people on here recommend a meds DF to get the teething toddler to sleep a bit longer in the AM.  It hasn't worked for me because I can't seem to not wake him up when I'm doing it , but it is a good idea if you can do it right (I am inept at it unfortunately). 

I am hoping for both of our sakes that it is definitely teething -- because then at least we know there is an end in sight! (((Hugs)))

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

and I often feel the same way as you've titled your post!

[anna*]

My guess would be a) teeth and b) overtired. He's only getting 11hrs in 24. I'd try bringing his nap and bedtime both earlier.

[kiansmam]

He's cut all 4 molars and doesn't show any signs of teething atm, he always wakes up crying and has done since a baby. I'll try the earlier nap/bedtime and see how that goes for a while. If this works, how do i move his day back again so that he's napping at 12:30 and bedtime at 7:30, with hopefully a later wake up? Thanks

[anna*]

How old is he now?

I'd start by getting some consistently longer nights and then move EVERYTHING 15 mins later every few days - meal times, naps, bedtime routine etc.

What happens now when he wakes at 5am do you just get up and start your day?

[kiansmam]

Hi anna, he's 17 months old. Initially when he started this a couple of months ago (previously sleeping till 6-6:30am. I think it was when he was cutting his molars it all started) I tried a couple of methods and was consistent with them for a while, but nothing helped. It has now gotton to the point that yes we start our day at this time. The other day he did wake at 4am, but there was no way i was starting the day then. I gave him a little cuddle and put him back down to which he started crying straight away. If i held him he was ok. I kept trying pu/pd till 5am when i gave in as he was waking the rest of the house up.

[anna*]

Well that's the other thing, to decide what is the earliest time you will start your day and don't budge on that. If he always gets his morning milk at 5am and his breakfast at 6 (for example), he'll wake because he's hungry for them. Have you done WIWO at your morning wakings? I'd try that for at least a week, and then failing that I'd cuddle him in his bedroom in the dark and quiet until 6am, and then open the curtains, be happy mummy and 'hello good morning!' and then do breakfast etc.

Re the teething, has he got his canines through?

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

Kiansmam, our sons sound like twins.

I was going to ask about canines too.  It is hard to see when they are coming in due to their placement in the mouth, and sometimes even when the teething isn't affecting the daytime, it's affecting the night time (that has been hard for me to get my arms around, but I think it's true).  I think Sam started teething the canines way before any actually popped through and tbh while the molars were bad, the canines have been worse.  I think they really bother LOs even when they are moving beneath the gum, not just cutting.

The unfortunate thing is that bad teething often does cause OT (as Anna has suggested) and then you get stuck in a cycle.  I agree with Anna's suggestion to try bringing everything forward temporarily.  I have been trying this and it has helped a bit. 

 

[kiansmam]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to give it go and see what happens. Tbh I didn't he was teething but I've just had a look and his two top canines are about to pop and I can see the two bottom ones are really close to the surface. Can this be causing the ew? X

[anna*]

Canines are brutal, seriously the worst teeth we had to contend with, so yes I would say they can DEFINITELY mess with sleep. One thing you could try is sneaking into his room with a syringe of Calpol or Nurofen at about 2am - that will give you an ideal if it is discomfort waking him.

[sianie]

I agree with Anna, canines can reek havoc on sleep so I'm sure they are to blame!

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

I've about had it with the canines myself, so (((hugs)))

[kiansmam]

Ok, I'm going to give it a go. What time should I do nap and bedtime x

[anna*]

I'd try a 5.5hr A time in the morning, nap as long as he wants, and a 6.30 latest bedtime (6pm if the nap was less than 2hrs).