Getting My Child to Sleep Later

He may be getting up early due to the early morning light. That is what my boys did. I bought a blackout curtain for their room. After all the winter darkness, just that little bit of light was enough to wake them up super early.

From my experience as a mom of 3 (ages 13, 10, & 7), I'd say your son needs a later bedtime. One only needs so much sleep. I'd start with moving his routine to 8pm. Give that a week and see how he does. Best of luck to you!

I had the same problem with my son, and it started when the sun started coming up earlier and making his room bright. So another mom suggested buying a pull-down shade from Home Depot and that made ALL the difference. It made his room dark and he started sleeping in again. I hope you have the same success. I measured my window and went to Home Depot (you'll want it a little wider than your window to block out all the sun) and they cut them to size for me. I just keep it rolled down all the time. He already had blinds in his room, but they didn't keep enough sun out all by themselves. I also have a curtain up in his room as decoration that covers up the pull-down shade so you can still have cute curtains. Good luck!

I definitely agree on putting him to bed a little later. This way, you get to actually spend some time with him, which is what it sounds like he so desperately needs from you. I wouldn't advise trying to work out at night because it sounds like you need it to give you some energy in the morning for your long commute. Have you thought about changing your schedule at work, if it is possible? Maybe working a 4 day schedule and giving your son an extra day of your time might help. Also, if you have a degree, usually a Bachelor's or higher, there are many of work-at-home opportunities from large companies willing to pay contracted employees. Just a thought.

Hi J.. I have two girls and both of them go through what I call "sleep cycles". I remember going through the exact same thing at around 22 months old and I was beyond frustrated as well as exhausted. As we already were using noise machines and black out curtains, my hubby and I tried everything elsen moving bed time earlier, moving bedtime later, timed light, etc...and nothing seemed to work. My oldest started waking up my youngest and I had 2 kids up in the 5am hour everyday. However, 3 weeks or so later both my girls starting getting up later on their own. This cycle seems to repeat itself every 4 months or so.

I just left a message for a friend yesterday asking if her son was "getting up early again". It always seems are kids go through the "cycle" around the same time. I believe the light/season changes make a big difference as well as sickness. One of my kids has been waking up to the birds chirping at 5:30am and the other one started waking up when the air conditioner turns on in the morning because she is just in a light sleep at that point.

My advice...try a few changes to see if they help but pretty much just try and ride it out!

turn the monitor off. He'll go back to sleep. If you get him up at that time then he will do it everyday. Good luck

Try darkening his bedroom, if it isn't already. I notice the sun is up at 5!! I bought a darkening shade for my nursery at home depot. Turn off your moitor!!...he's going thru a phase & if you get him up he won't correct it!!!

Maybe try to put him to sleep an hour later. same routine just move back an hour. We start our bedtime routine about 8 pm. but my boys are 5, 8, and 9. By nine they are all in bed. They wake at 6:30-6:45 in the morning. The five year old, he is in a routine but doesn't always fall right to sleep but he is up at the same time every morning. We noticed that he tries to 'wake up' when he hears dad getting ready for work becuase dad just recently went back to work and doesn't do a lot of things he used to with him. Like pick drop/pick him up from daycare or pick me up from work so he tries to get up when dad is up just so he can spend that extra half an hour with him. But he is right back to sleep once dad leaves. he doesn't wake up fussy or tired when his regular time to get up. He does attend daycare and so his routine during the day hasn't changed. ONe other possibility is that maybe he is just a morning person. My daughter was like that no matter what time she went to sleep she was always up early in the morning and to this day is still like that. She is 16 now. My son learned how to turn on the tv so if anyone is not up he will just turn on the tv and wait for someone to wake up. Usually his brothers. Maybe talking to him and letting him know that he is to look at a book when he wakes up or play with a toy until he hears mom or show him things to do in his room until mom or dad come get him. Or even when he does wake up, taking him back to his room and letting him know mom and dad are still resting or that it is mommy time and he needs to stay in his room or where ever you need him to be. Make it a routine in the morning also.

Whatever you do, don't get him up cause then he'll figure out that it works! If it doesn't help to just ignore him to see if he'll eventually go back to sleep, then what I did when my kids did something like that is that I'd go into their room and tell them that it was not time to get up yet and to go back to sleep. Be very stern about it so he knows you mean business and don't turn on the light or stimulate him too much. Be very matter of fact. It may take a few mornings, but he'll get the hint. Good luck.

I have a son that wakes with the SUN! It drives me crazy. I finally figured out that if I cover his window in the summer months (when the sun rises earlier) that he will sleep later, hours later :D! Maybe he is doing the same thing. Good Luck!

S.
www.diaperstyle.com