Early risings

So here we are. Naps seem to be on point and your baby is sleeping (for the most part!) through the night… but only until 4:30 or 5 am! If you're anything like me, the days of enjoying still being up and about at 4:30 am are long behind you! Keep reading for some ways to help convince your little one to sleep a little later.

Temperature

Is the room temperature consistent throughout the night? Could it be that the central heating or A/C is kicking in at a specific time causing them to get too hot or too cold? Try setting a constant temperature in little one's room or use a smart radiator valve to ensure the temperature doesn't get too high.

Noise

Changes in noise levels are sure to rouse your little one. Be it heating, air conditioning, traffic noise or other household members getting up for work, these are all things that will interrupt sleep. White noise machines can be a great way to set a minimum level of background noise that will help to drown out other sounds.

Darkness

Is the room completely dark? Melatonin is at its lowest from around 4am, so the slightest thing could wake your little one and because the drive to sleep is reduced, they’ll find it next to impossible to get back to sleep. Consider investing in a blackout blind or curtain to keep the room dark until it's time to get up. These can be had very cheaply and some don't even require installation beyond some suckers or adhesive tape.

Naps

Whilst your nap schedule may seem perfect, is first nap happening a little too early or earlier than scheduled? Try to get your child to their first scheduled nap window. Putting them down early because they woke early just reinforces the early wakeup, as they know it will be nap time soon!

Routines aren't just for bedtime

What happens at wake-up time? Are they being fed immediately on wake up? Nice soft cosy cuddles and milk in bed? Try to build in some distance between the waking up and feeding/cuddles so they aren't just waking up early for comfort.

Try letting them go back to sleep

Say you want your baby to get up at 6 am, but they’ve been waking at 5. Give them a chance to go back to sleep by waiting a short amount of time before going to them. You may well find that after a few mornings of this, they get used to it and simply go back to sleep by themselves!

Persevere...

Early wakings are usually the last piece of the sleep puzzle to slot into place, and can be incredibly frustrating for you whilst they do this. Just remember that your child has just started sleeping the longest they have ever had in one stretch, so as far as they are concerned, it’s rise and shine time! Take a deep breath, implement the above and if you need further help, take advantage of a discovery call with me so I can see if I can help!