Help with early rising toddler?!?

Question

My 22 month old daughter has suddenly started waking up earlier and earlier. There's been no change in routine - dinner, bath, read and in bed by 8pm. In the past she's woken up between 7:15 and 7:30. But everyday this week she's been getting up earlier everyday until this morning she woke up at 5:45am! What the heck is going on?

Some things I read say to put her to bed earlier (the more sleep they get, the more they want) and other sites say to put them to bed later because they may not need as much sleep. Has anyone had this experience? If so, what worked for you? Please help!

~Sleepless in Austin

Answer 1

My son (18 months) just started doing the same thing. I think he wants to be near me. Sometimes I climb into bed with him and other times I take him out to the couch and let him fall back asleep.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. He does sneak in an extra morning nap (around 9 or 10) when he gets up that early, and then he goes down as normal for his afternoon nap.

Answer 2

i had the same problem with my 23 month old son i cut out his daytime nap and ran him ragged all day this was the only thing that worked for me

Answer 3

My friend found this began occuring with her 2 year old - she therefore been putting him to bed a little earlier (around 6.45pm now) and he will sleep in generally until about 6 or just after.  Is she still having a day time nap - if so then perhaps you need to stop this nap it could be interferring with her sleeping longer.  I have always supported the notion to put them to bed earlier rather than later because with my son he sleeps much much better if he is tired rather than overtired. When he goes to bed too much later than 7pm or has bad naps during the day he will generally wake up during the night or wake early in the morning.  I would try initially putting your girl to bed a bit earlier for a week and see if this has any impact.  Of course as I said, any daytime naps could also be impacting on her night time sleep.  

Answer 4

there are some people that i work with and their toddlers are having problems going to sleep.  They said that melatonin can affect sleep...there is an herbal supplement to increase their melatonin...maybe you could ask your daughter's doctor to check that out

Answer 5

Hi we had the same thing with our daughter.

Does yours nap during the day?  If so, cut the nap short.  

It helped us, plus her room faces east.  We added blinds to her window behind the curtains to keep extra sunlight from coming in.

The combo of the two seemed to work.    

Answer 6

Have you tried putting her in bed with you to see if she'll go back to sleep?

Answer 7

I'd suggest you leave her in bed and chances are she'll fall asleep again.  It might take 5 minutes or 20 ... the night before put a book or toy in the crib/bed so she has something to occupy her (she won't be tempted to get out because she's bored).  Also, don't acknowledge that you hear her when she first wakes or you'll get into a discussion about going back to sleep and then it won't happen!

Answer 8

First, Taking her into your bed is a giant mistake.  She will continue to wake up earlier and earlier just to get into your bed!  Before you know it, she will be in your bed at 3am.  I would put her to bed earlier.  You will have that time at night alone, and just accept the fact that you are going to have to get up earlier in the morning.   I have found that when the clocks change, my kids schedules change.  As it gets light earlier, they get up earlier.  In the fall, when clocks go back, it will be dark for an hour more in the morning and she may sleep longer.

Answer 9

The earlier you put them to bed the earlier they rise in my experience. Is she taking a nap in the afternoon. She may not be getting enough exercise or to much sleep. A recent growth spurt?

Try counting back from the time you want her to wake up and then put her to bed 10-12 hour's before then.

She may just be one of those rare children that needs less sleep. My son was like that for years and my husband to. they need less sleep than most naturally.

Answer 10

do not put her in your bed - you will never get her out of it!! (learned that the hard way)

keep her up later. maybe push her bedtime back a half hour or 45 minutes and give her a shorter nap (or no nap) during the day.

try it out and see if it helps.  

Answer 11

She is trying something new, and its working for her.  She now knows she can get in bed with you and she will continue to do this unless you stand firm and keep her in her bed.  Something may be waking her up at that time of morning.  Maybe an outside noise that you are not hearing but she is.  All in all this is a phase and it will pass, but in the meantime don't start something with her that is not working for you and your husband.  (taking her into your bed)  My son and his wife did just that with their first born and he was 4 before they could break him doing it.  They learned with the second one.  She tried a few times but they stood their ground and she eventually got the message and slept longer instead of waking up with the anticipation that she was going to get to go to Mommy's bed.  Good Luck!

Answer 12

My children did the same thing until I started putting them to bed an hour later, and took away their naps. Also, DO NOT FOR ANY REASON let her sleep with you or put her in your bed. THat habit is WAY to hard to break, among all the others. Take it from someone who knows. It took me over a year to break my oldest of it. Good luck.