why does my son wake up early?

Question

I have an 8 year old son healthy and fit a bit over weight but very active goes to bed 8pm every night, but he wakes up and gets out of bed any time from about 5am onwards, he then can be grumpy and moody with his brother and me. I just cant understand why he gets up so early. his bed is really comfy he crawls into most night where he is so tired. When he does get up early he is very quiet and wont disturb anyone so i am not aware all the time of when he is up

thanks for some of your answers. ok re his diet it is very healthy, I make sure both my sons have fresh veg and fruit every day, drinks are water, fresh juice or milk. Re what time he goes to bed well he can go to bed at midnight but would still get up early. His room at night is pitch black. There mum left them years ago and we have moved twice since then could this be a factor

Answer 1

Hi,

My son went through this - it is an exhausting time and messes up the day ahead with constant fatigue and irritability.
We checked all the obvious things like you have - light, diet etc
and realised it was a habit from back when he was had a cough disturbing the sleep. His body will automatically go through a light sleep near 5am and then he decides time to get up or roll over and go back to sleep. To break the cycle you need to wake him at 4.00am! and then he has to roll over and go back to sleep. He will sleep until say 6.30am which is a more civilised time for everyone. Then when towards 5am he will naturally go past this time in a deeper sleep - hooray! You may have to try the early wake time at 4.00am twice.

Answer 2

You might find that their mum leaving and the move has definately got something to do with his moods! Try and find out what he does when he gets up so early! Perhaps he thinks about his Mum? Try and spend some time with him one to one when he goes to bed, and perhaps try a later bedtime, even half an hour. His clock will eventually make him sleep that little longer. Some kids don't need as much sleep as others, but he should be getting at least an hour more than he is! Did he and his Mum perhaps do something together in the mornings? Perhaps he is missing that? I think you need to as him what he feels ... and why he likes getting up so early. You will more than likely find he is feeling a little insecure, so thats like his time and maybe feels like he is the only one missing his Mum? You do need to talk to him though, as it's probably something to do with an emotion he is trying to cope with! Good luck!

Answer 3

Maybe the moving could have had an effect but some kids are just naturally early risers. My sister and i used to always wake up early 4 no particular reason. We just did, sometiomes to watch TV or get ready 4 the day. Kids just seem 2 like to wake up early or very late.

Answer 4

i was put in a boarding school when i was three and stayed there until i was seven. Everyday i use to dream of my mother coming to meet me and when i wake up to realise that it was just a dream, i use to get so frustrated and sad at the same time. I would cry at the drop of a hat that people thought i was very sensitive. The foster mother never understood why i cried for the slightest reason.

Seek professional help. I am sure the poor boy is missing his mother but doesn't know how to express it.

Answer 5

wouldnt worry too much my son is 7 and has always been an early riser.even on occasions where we,ve allowed him up really late he,s up at his normal time nx morning.we went through the grumpy thing as well because he was obviously still tired and explained if he wanted to get up that early that was up to him but not everyone else did and if he woke before say 6.30 he should lie in bed with a book.and believe it or not he does!!

Answer 6

We all have an internal clock that wakes us when we've had enough sleep..I don't think mom leaving would have him waking up early..it's just how he is..My daughter is a late night owl..she'll stay up til one in the morning(she's 17) and she'll still get up in time for school etc...she's ALWAYS been this way...My son who is almost 3 wakes up EVERY day before 5 am..which means I'm up too! Like today...and he doesn't NAP...so I'm up that early..and my husband works until after 11 pm ~ midnight when he gets home...so..I have to wait up for him...so I'm getting like 4 hours sleep...I'm old and NEED sleep..but young kids...seem to function fine...Maybe give him an extra hour of time up and see if he'll sleep til 6

Answer 7

Some people are just naturally early risers. It just happends most however do not wake up early thats why you think it is wierd. Think of it as a good thing really, if you are having to wake up with an alarm clock then you are not getting enough sleep. When your body has had enough sleep, it wakes itself up.. if you want him to sleep later try making his bed time later say 9 see what happends....
To the poster above... bodies differ, not all people need only 8 hours of sleep.. depends on the person as i said, when your body has had enough you will wake up.

Answer 8

seems normal to me hes getting 9 hours + sleep a night, could try putting to bed later but it really does not seem to be a problem.

the moodiness is probably not related do u watch what he eats IE sugar sweets etc. there have been a lot of programs on lately highlighting the problems processed food etc can cause kids u say hes very active but overweight this could be a sign that hes eating the wrong things as the sugars will make him overactive but will add weight

Answer 9

My teenagers the two did this and nevertheless do on occasion, yet now they're the right age to entertain themselves for an hour or so till i'm getting up. i could attempt hooking up a easy to a timer. set up the timer for each time that's a suitable time for him to stand up (yet be useful! he can no longer sleep till finally 10!) and then show him while the easy comes on, it somewhat is morning and time to get away from mattress. placed a basket of quiet toys and books via his mattress each evening and tell him if he wakes up till now the easy comes on he can look at those toys till it somewhat is first easy. you would be able to could try this with him some circumstances for him to appreciate and capture on. yet another decision is to permit him again into mattress with you. At that hour, that's different from he's "napping" on your mattress. It in basic terms enables you slightly extra time and if he sees all people else nevertheless napping it may motivate him to do the comparable. some teenagers are in basic terms early risers. Mine continuously have been and nevertheless are.....do no longer combat it. it somewhat is in basic terms his physique clock and he can no longer help it. till now you already comprehend it, he would be a teenager and impossible to get away from mattress and you will long for recently! good luck.....

Answer 10

If he is waking up around 5 a.m., and goes to bed at 8, thats a full 9 hours of sleep. The body only needs 8, and he is over sleeping. If he went to bed later, he would wake up later.
If this is an option, try letting him stay up an hour later or so.