My daughter gets up at 5am every morning, sometimes earlier.?

Question

She is turning 16months and gets up at 5am every morning and I am exhausted! The worst it's been was 4am!
She isn't hungry cos when she gets up she is smilling and dancing around, pulling her toys out her toybox and doesn't ask for breakfast until around 8am.
She has one 1-2hour nap through the day and goes down at 7pm.
IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE PUTTING HER TO BED LATER OR REDUCING HER NAP TIME, I HAVE TRIED!
Please help, is she just a morning person or will she grow out of it? She used to sleep 7pm-7am but this 5am nonsense has been going on for months.
I tried letting her cry it out but I live in a flat and the upstairs neighbour made a comment about hearing her cry so early in the morning.

Answer 1

I think she is just a morning person. If you say nothing makes a difference (my son is the same way, nothing we tried changed when he woke up) then you may just have to wait it out. I'm sorry...not very encouraging words but hopefully things will change soon. And hopefully things will change when she stops taking a nap. My son doesn't nap anymore (he's almost 2 1/2) and sleeps 7-5:30 or 6. Wide awake in the morning and not tired during the day. It stinks (those early mornings). I think that's good she has toys to play with. Maybe you could put a few more toys in there so she can at least keep herself occupied even 10 minutes longer? Best of luck Or, even a TV. I wish there was one you could have automatically turn on at a certain time.

Oh and she doesn't have a freaking disease. What an ignorant comment!

Answer 2

I'm sorry love, but that's kids for you lol.

It's just a child thing. And you're right, putting her to bed earlier and reducing her nap times will not help at all. They longer she sleeps, the longer she will sleep.

Good news is that she'll grow out of it, and by the time she's a teenager she won't get until until after midday lol. She seems happy, to have so much energy in the morning, there isn't anything wrong with her. I'm sorry that it's exhausting you.

If you havn't got a routine for when you take her to bed, this might help. I know it sounds like it's not really related, but taking her to bed after a bath, and reading her a bedtime story every night can really make a difference. She will feel more comfortable in her bed and be more willing to stay there. Also, give her some water before she goes to bed, this can relax the digestive system while she sleeps. It may help her as she might be waking up because her digestive system is busy working that early in the morning. And don't feed her after dinner, I know supper is a sweet idea, but it doesn't help sleep. Give her something little, but no significant food after dinnertime. Milk or water are good ideas before bed.

If you can't sit and play with her that early in the morning, put some nice, safe toys out in her room, in her crib or her bed, wherever she is sleeping. Explain to her that she can play with them in the morning and she isn't to wake you up until later.

My little brother did this when he was young, although he never got up as early as 4!! We just explained to him how we don't get up as hearly as he does, and he was happy playing in the morning by himself for a while.

She'll grow out of it, don't worry :). Good luck with her and I hope you get some sleep soon.

PS. Try letting her sleep at a relatives house sometimes, just to make sure you get a good lie in sometimes. :)

Answer 3

Don't worry. Its quite normal for this age. In fact this early to rise is a v good sign of a healthy child. Once she gets older say 2-3 yrs & starts playing around with other kids, she will get very much like us. In fact u should stop worrying of neighbours & relish those glden moments in early morning when your child is at her best.

Answer 4

I was up at 4 am everymorning and so my paretns put puzzles out for me to play with for 4 hours. But I was a little older. At 16 months I would get a play pen and teach her to play quietly with quiet toys beside your bed in the morning if possible.

Answer 5

I suggest that you try another routine.how about letting her take a warm bath before going to bed and even turn on some kind of soft music in the radio maybe lullabye songs turn it on the whole night. Don't give her sweets before going to bed like chocolates and candies. It makes kids alert you cant put them to bed. Just try it for a change hopefully it will work out for you and your child.

Answer 6

my little ones did the same thing. I found that when we go through daylight savings that kicks in getting up earlier also. I now put my little ones to bed after 7.30 and put on mozart so they know it is sleep time. Also I turn my AC on fan so that any background noise that they hear is muffled out to the fan and they sleep till around 6am now..

Answer 7

heres the deal a child her age needs 10 hours of sleep a night at least

she goes to sleep at 7pm count ten hours ahead you have 5 am.

you want her to sleep later keep her up til 9-10pm
and let her nap later in the day instead of noon keep her up and active til 2or 3 pm then put her down

Answer 8

Try putting her down later at night then. If you think of it, she goes to bed at 7 and wakes up at 4 or 5 thats 8 or 9 hours of sleep! I would probably put her down around 9 and see how that goes.

Answer 9

Sorry, but it sounds like she is just a morning person. At least she is letting you know she is up, my daughter used to get up and sneak downstairs to watch cartoons.

Answer 10

Sleep the same time you put your daughter to sleep. And wake up the same time with her. Have you tried this?