Early Morning Wake Ups

Do you find yourself waking up to a little one who's raring to go at the crack of dawn? Early morning wake ups in young children can be exhausting for parents and disrupt their child's sleep schedule. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help your child sleep in a little longer. Here are some tips for stopping early morning wake ups in children aged 0 to 7 years old.

• Adjust bedtime: One reason children may wake up early is that they're going to bed too early. Try moving their bedtime back by 15-30 minutes to see if that helps them sleep in a little longer.

• Darken the room: Early morning sunlight can be a major culprit in causing wake ups. Make sure your child's room is dark and consider using blackout curtains or shades to block out the early morning light.

• White noise: Sometimes, even the slightest noises can wake children up. Try using a white noise machine or a fan to create a consistent background noise that can help your child sleep more soundly.

• Consistency: Consistency is key when it comes to sleep. Make sure your child is going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends. This helps regulate their internal clock and can help prevent early morning wake ups.

• Use a clock: As children get older, they may be able to understand the concept of time. Consider using a clock or a visual timer to help your child understand when it's time to get up for the day. For example, you could say "When the clock says 7:00 am, you can come out of your room."

• Reinforce sleep associations: If your child has a lovey or a special blanket they associate with sleep, make sure they have it with them when they go to bed. This can help create a consistent and comfortable environment for sleep.

• Limit daytime naps: If your child is napping too much during the day, it can interfere with their nighttime sleep schedule and cause them to wake up early. Try limiting naps to no more than two hours and avoid napping too close to bedtime.

• Gradual waking: If your child wakes up too early, try going into their room and sitting quietly with them until it's time to get up. This can help ease them into waking up gradually and prevent them from feeling disoriented or upset.

Remember, it can take time to adjust your child's sleep schedule, so be patient and persistent. By implementing these tips, you can help your child sleep in a little longer and give yourself some much-needed rest.