Hi moms! Lately my 11 month old son is waking as early as 4 AM when he usually sleeps as late as 6:30. Nothing has changed in his routine at all, his bed time is the same...any ideas on what could be causing him to wake up earlier or ideas on how to put him back to sleep easily? He takes two naps a day, one mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. Is 11 months too early to start weaning to one nap? Could two naps during the day be the cause? Thanks in advance!!
He could be going through a growth spurt and is hungry. That can (and usually does) happen.
My DD started doing that at 13 months. We have no clue it went on for two weeks.
She had three naps a day...
From what I hear this is common for children to do at this age. What i did to get her back on schedule was removed one nap and would keep her up until her scheduled morning nap. This made her so exausted after two days she was back on schedule and then down to only 2 naps a day.
I think your child still needs his two naps a day and try once he is up at 4:30 keep him up until his sched nap time. If this doesnt work try shortening the nap times by half an hour. If this still doesnt work....he may be one of those babies who only need one nap a day. I have heard of some kids that age do that.
Although my DD didnt go down for one nap a day until she was 22 months. I realized having two naps a day she wouldnt go down to bed at 9 pm...she would be up till midnight. Cutting out the one nap fixed the prob. She may of wanted the two naps but she didnt need the two naps anymore. I streached the AM nap by half an hour each day until she was going to nap at 1 pm. This works great...alough she streaches her naps out later and later lately. Where on days she doesnt fall asleep for nap until 3 or 4 somedays. But if she doent go down by 4 pm she skips her nap for that day otherwise she wont go down for bed at 9 pm.
Again my advice is:
I think your child still needs his two naps a day and try once he is up at 4:30 keep him up until his sched nap time.
Most babies go down to one nap after 1 so I wouldn't push taking his naps away. If he sleeping during both naps then he still needs them. Could he be teething? My son would wake up around 3ish every night when he was teething it would last for weeks. You might try giving him teething tablets when he wakes up.
Maddie went down to 1 nap at around that age, maybe try it and see what happens.
And like the pp said it could be a growth spurt too. Or possibly teething........hope you get some rest!!!
you may want to TRY the 1 nap thing. It is not too early, but if it does not work out, you can just shorten the morning nap until it is phased out altogether.
When he DOES wake up early, do NOT talk to him or turn on a light. This makes baby think it is time to get up. Simply check on him (lay him down if necessary) and then close the door again. Eventually he will get the idea that it is not time yet.
Good luck!
P. <><
