Wake to sleep not an option-wakes up then too!!

[miasmum]

Hi,

My dd is 17mo and has started waking at 5.30am every morning.  We decided to try wake to sleep and did it one morning.  I don't think we stirred her enough because we were a bit scared she would wake up and not go back to sleep.  The next morning she started waking at 4am and then 4.30am.  At first this was ok because she put herself back to sleep, but would still wake at 5.30am.  Now she wakes up and we have to put her back to sleep (pat/shh - she likes that) and she is still up early.  The last few mornings she has woken at 3am, 4am and then 5am and is up at 5am.  I have no idea when to do the wake to sleep because she is up at all times. 

She is incredibly cranky all day until her nap and because she is up early her nap is early 11.30am-12.30am and for about 1.5hours.  Her bedtime is also very early with bath at 5.30 and in bed at 6am.  This has always been this early and we tried making it later but of course it never extended her wake up time. 

She was sick a while ago and we spent longer with her trying to get her back to sleep with pat/shh and I think she is no used to that.  She is not sick now and I think we have to go back to being a little tougher.  When we do this I go in lie her down and say time for nigh-nighs and walk out.  If she crys I wait a few seconds and go in and do it again.  I don't pat/shh and eventually she goes off from pure exhaustion of crying. 

Is this the right thing to do?  Is it a stage - I have no idea and can't live with the lack of sleep (I'm 10 weeks pregnant and exhausted anyway) and the day long cranky child. 

Please help, thanks

[Khyan & Sahria's mum]

Oh my gosh - we have the same life !

Except that my DS is still sick and is ALWAYS sick. No advice here but I will be watching for responses.

Goodluck - at least I know that there are others who are pregnant, tired and up at the crack of dawn just like me  :roll:

Lets hope that we can both get it sorted out as soon as possible.

[elfin]

Hi Amanda,

How is she falling asleep at the begining of the night?  What happens when you go in when she wakes early?  Is she working on any new teeth?  Have you tried giving her pain meds before bed?  Could she be too hot/cold?

Those are a couple of my thoughts.  My ds has been a chronic early waker on and off for awhile now, and it always seems to correspond with new teeth or an illness.

Post back and we'll try and help!

[jessica and emilys mummy]

My daughter is the same.She goes to bed at 6.30pm and wakes between 5.30 and 6am.
I did try the wake to sleep,but she just woke up and was grumpy all day.
SHe normally has her nap at 12.30pm for 2 hours.
Although it is early to wake up she is having about 11.5hrs sleep (If she goes straight to sleep and isn't up during the night)
It may be worth trying to move the nap until later in the day and putting her to bed 30 mins later.Although as you've said,later to bed,same wake time.But by changing the nap time it might help.

[miasmum]

Thanks for all your help,

She used to fall asleep really well-we gave her a bottle and read a book, laid her in bed and she would go off.  Now the last few nights she has fussed and taken 45 minutes to go off.  When she wakes early she seems to just wake up and be fully awake.  When I go in she is wide awake and there is no way she is going back to sleep.  I sleep her in a grow bag and I'm really careful with her temperature - I'm pretty sure she's ok.  SHe has been getting her 4 eye teeth in and they have caused her trouble but they are all through now and there are no more that I can see.  I am worried about giving pain meds without having any proof that she is sick.  So I have no idea.  The other thing is now I can't seem to go in to settle her at anytime of the night because I seem to stir her up and she wants a cuddle and it makes it worse.  My poor dh has to do it all because he seems to be able to send her off easily.  I don't understand because we have talked about it and we do the same things.  He has no luck though at 5am! :cry:

Thanks, any suggestions would be great.  I know its a hard one.  By the way, she didn't wake up at 4.30am this morning so I went in and stirred her and she did sleep and extra 15 mins.  At least its something.  I don't know if I did it properly but she did stir and roll over. 

Thanks again.  It is nice to know there are other Mums and families out there with the same problems.