Anyone Else's Child Still Not Adjusted to the Time Change??

Updated on November 11, 2008
C.A. asks from Charlottesville, VA
15 answers

My one year old still has not fully adjusted to the time change. We have successfully adjusted at night (it seems) and are usually asleep by 7 pm. But she wakes up at 5 AM on the button or earlier (used to be 6 AM) and is ready for a nap again at 7:30 or 8! Anyone else? Will this just take a little more time or are we stuck on 5 AM (sigh...she has always been an early riser)?

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J.N.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Not much advice here, just some empathy. It takes weeks for kids (or adults really) to adjust to a new schedule. My boys (5 & 7) are now getting up around 5:30 and I'm not ready to be up yet! So I know how you feel. It does get easier as they grow. There's some good advice on helping with time changes so I won't repeat it. I just wanted to let you know you're not alone.

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J.M.

answers from Salt Lake City on

C., I wish that I had advice. But all I can say is it is the same story here with my 3yr. old. She is up at 5:00 every morning. It is so frustrating. It makes for such a long morning. Hang in there and I will try to also.

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T.M.

answers from Denver on

Both of our kids, who are 4 and 1, are just getting used to the time change. There are still a few mornings that we are getting early, but it is getting better.

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R.M.

answers from Pocatello on

YUP! I posted about this same topic last week and sure enough, my 10 month old AND my 3 1/2 year old are waking up WAY TOO early STILL. Everything else has changed, except for their wake up time and my baby is wanting an early nap too! I have NO ideas as to what to do. Have tried them all-if you find a trick, email me ;0)
Lisa

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M.H.

answers from Denver on

Last year, my 17 month old had a really super difficult time, and was getting up at 4:30 or 5 am for awhile. Eventually, the waking time gradually moved to be a little later--but it took six or eight weeks. This year, she woke early for just a few days, and I was so grateful. Hang in there--they will adjust eventually--I am not sure why it is so tough for them!

M.

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J.H.

answers from Billings on

Yes! THis is so frustrating to me, too. My son FINALLY, just since September, started sleeping until 7am or even 7:30, after ALWAYS waking up at about 6am. And now, he's back to the 6am with the time change! I can't wait until Spring for him to sleep in again.

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M.M.

answers from Denver on

Coleen,

I have no advice, only empathy. I have been up since 5ish with my 2 year old so my husband can get some precious rest before work. The last 2 tiime changes he adjusted with no issue. So I did not fret this one. My little one is also an ealry riser and always has been. (I am not a morning person, so I just chalk it up to God's sense of humor.) I dont know what to do. I have friends who just let them play/fuss what ever until "wake" time. And I am usually pretty strict, but I cant stand the noise in the morning. So, his routine is to get up when he is awake. Oh, we also have black out curtains. No fooling my guy. So, I am curious to hear updates on what happens with your little one. :)

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A.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Same thing with our 1 year old. The last couple of days, even though he is awake, I have been leaving him in his bed for the extra hour, and he has slowly been waking up a little later each day. Hang in there, they will adjust especially as it starts to stay dark later.

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H.W.

answers from Colorado Springs on

OMG!!!
My 3 month old is up at 4 a.m. everyday! try keeping a 3 month old awake...impossible. I have 7 kids and this has NEVER happened to me. I assume they will get into the swing of things especially if we are severely boring at that hour????

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M.O.

answers from Denver on

We ignored the time change for our daughter. Her bedtime was 7ish, now it's 6ish. She has enough to deal without us imposing a made up time change on her poor little brain.

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K.J.

answers from Salt Lake City on

yep. i decided not to change his schedule. so instead of putting him to bed 8:pm my time, he goes to bed at 7. I figure it'll be just as easy when the time changes again to not change what he's used to.

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K.D.

answers from Denver on

We had a kid that did that for months after a trip back East. We just worked on getting 15 more minutes each morning until it was a time we could tolerate. If she won't wait 15 minutes happily, then do shorter. You want to go in while she's happy so she doesn't think it was the crying that brought you in. GL!

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S.L.

answers from Boise on

My kids have adjusted, but all summer they woke up about 7, and now that it's dark later in the mornings (Boise has massive swings in the length of light! The sun sets at 10 pm in the summer and 5pm in winter), they sleep at least an hour more, even though they go to bed at the same time.
If you don't want blackout curtains, you can at least make sure your daughter's blinds and curtains (if they're the kind that close) are closed. Maybe that way the sun won't be bright enough to wake her up, but won't mess up her natural sleep rhythm. It's natural to wake up when it gets light and sleep when it gets dark. But our need for clocks have messed that up a little bit!

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D.K.

answers from Denver on

It is normal.
My son was sleeping in until 7:30 on weekends before the time changes (we have to get up for school during the week at 6:55) and now is up at 6:30ish or sometimes earlier! He goes to bed the same time too now. If it is overcast in the mornings he sleeps longer so I know it is the sun waking him up. Since he is older however I have told him he has to get up go pee and crawl back into bed and be quiet if everyone else is still asleep. Some mornings this works, others not so much as I can hear him talking to himself.

Get black out shades and maybe that will help not trigger the sunlight being time to get up! :) I still need to do this!!!

Kids will adjust their wake times a ton of time between now and 6 or 7 years of age. I have to drag my 7 year old out of bed, sun or no sun, hee hee. But my four year old typically is up with the sun.

It is hard as they wake up and are usually hungry then and full of pee, good luck! :) Since she is going back to sleep two hours after waking she is still tired, maybe just leave her be in her crib for a while and don't go get her, sometimes they will go back to sleep. If she doesn't hear you or see you she may settle back in. Good luck! Been there many times.

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J.M.

answers from Grand Junction on

Try adjusting her time in 15 minute increments. Let her cry from 5-5:15 then go in and get her do this for about a week or until she starts waking up at 5:15 then do the same from 5:15-5:30 etc... until you are back at your 6am wake up time.

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