Toddler Early Wakening (4:30/5:00a) 21mos

HI there,

My 21 mo old son began a few night wakenings and pretty regular early morning wakenings in the last 2-3 weeks. He's pretty much consistently waking up between 4:30 and 5:30a now - when he used to sleep to 6:15/6:45. We switched our twins from sleeping separately to sleeping together again 2 mos ago. All went smoothly and they maintained their 6a-ish waking schedule up until a few weeks ago. Previously if Cole woke early, he'd usually put himself back to sleep for another hour (he was always prone to rouse around 5:30 or so) now that they are together, we can't really benefit from that.

NOw that they are in the same room, my one son wakes so early, he tends to wake the other as well -- so we're starting the day almost 2 hours earlier (ughhh).

Anyone experience this?

I should mention a few recent changes that either have happened or are imminent:

1) We switched from a 2 day a week sitter to a f/t nanny (live out) on May 12th (so new person to acclimate to)
2) I am pregnant and due with our third (a singleton) next week May 28th (we have talked about a baby some, but not tons as the boys don't really get it)
3) We don't really have the option of separating them again as we'll have my mother here for most of June helping with the new baby.

Any thoughts, ideas on what might be causing this would be great!

Cheers,

Teri D

 

When he wakes, does he cry or scream? If not, I would just leave him in his crib. Chances are, he will fall back asleep. And when you say they sleep together, are they in a crib together or bed? Maybe he doesn't have enough room to sleep? My twins stopped sleeping together at about 10 months old.

 

Berber and Keagan here are the ones that wake up early.
When it was really early we would bring them down stairs and put them in a crib/playpen. So if they keep crying/wyning we could still sleep. After 6 o'clock we would put the tv on. A few short nights i can handle but not every night.
Keagan and Cosmo sleep in one room and Cosmo is our great sleeper and can sleep thru most the crying. When we pick up Keagan out of his crib, Cosmo will cry for a few seconds and fall back in sleep.

good luck, sometimes there isn't a real reason for waking up early

 

Just a thought - could be a combination of the changes w/the nanny and that they may be on the verge of some developmental breakthrough. According to what I've read (mostly Brazelton, who studied kids for 25+ years in his pediatric practice). whenever they are getting ready to or mastering new skills; motor, linguistic or emotional, it often disturbs the sleep pattern.

I know that's not particularly helpful but perhaps if you know it's well within the range of 'normal' then it might assuage you. Congrats on the third baby!

 

I am wondering the same thing as independent? How are they actually set up to sleep. If no crying -- let him play!

 

HI,

Actually, he cries and calls for us when he wakes -- his brother wakes pretty easily if it's after 5a as well. So even if we try to get to him we've usually missed the oppty to keep #2 asleep.

The room is dark - so the light should not be that big a problem... My Pedi discussed allergies as the culprit for the night wakening so we're treating the environmental allergies now. This morning they woke at 5:15 which is still early, but better than 4:30a

Most of the replies I got from my MOT group said that they too have had this problem and it happens every year at this time before summer soltice when the days are the longest.

Cheers

Teri D

 

All of my kids have gone through this at different points. I've always treated it like any other night waking. I'd wait a bit before going in unless they were hysterical. Then I'd shhh them, whisper that it was still night night time and leave. I did it with three in the room and if the others woke, I'd do the same for them. Very soon they learned that there was no reason to call for me because it wasn't morning yet so they'd go back to sleep. We also tend to have early wakers (rather than risers because I don't let them get up!) at this time of year when the sun is coming up early. I try to darken the window as much as possible when it starts and that seems to help. Good luck!

 

If it were me I would go in 1-2 times and tell them it bedtime and leave. After that I would not go in until your set time (here it is 7am), they learn suprisingly fast that you will not come until that time (just like they learn pretty quickly to keep waking up early if they get to get up!).

And I didn't know you were pg, CONGRATS!!!!!!!! Ready to bf again so soon?!

 

Dani J is a mother to 4 year old twins and I think she has a digital clock on their room that tells them the time they are allowed to get out of bed. She is on vacation this week but I will point this thread out to her ... it really worked well for her.

 

HI,
Are your twins in cribs or beds? We moved ours to beds @ 3 yrs, 10 mths old and they started waking up @ 6am while in cribs they woke between 7 and 8 each morning. I was not about to move to 6am! But i'm spoiled So we put a big number digital clock in their room and covered the last 2 numbers. They know they cannot get out of bed until their is a 7 on the clock. Not sure if your kids can identify numbers yet, so that may not work.

Good luck!