3 year old waking at 5 am

[jonny the fo]

Can someone give me some advise, my son has always been quite a good sleeper but the last two weeks he has been waking between 4.30 and 6 am for a drink and not going back to sleep! He goes to bed at 19.30 and used to sleep 12 hours through. His mood is terrible and he is really pushing limits at the moment-I also have had flu for the last week so not very patient myself as I am shattered!

Please help before i go crazy!!
Sarah x

[ethanryan]

hi i have a nd a half year old who used to be the same, he never needed much sleep, unlike me!. the trick is not to give in to him, if you allow him to get and play he has won. if he wants a drink give him one then lie him back down and tell him he has to stay. if he gets back up lie him back down. it took me about a week of it been like this for him to realise i wasnt joking. he still wakes up for that drink now but goes back to sleep.

another way i used to try is if he wont stay in his bed take him down but either lie him in his pushchair or if he dont have one lie him on settee with you and dont let him get off, if you allow him to play its fun for him, but if you make him realise that it isnt play time he will go back to sleep cause he is board.

try sitting on bed with him and reading him a story

[ethanryan]

hi i have 2 and a half year old who used to be the same, he never needed much sleep, unlike me!. the trick is not to give in to him, if you allow him to get and play he has won. if he wants a drink give him one then lie him back down and tell him he has to stay. if he gets back up lie him back down. it took me about a week of it been like this for him to realise i wasnt joking. he still wakes up for that drink now but goes back to sleep.

another way i used to try is if he wont stay in his bed take him down but either lie him in his pushchair or if he dont have one lie him on settee with you and dont let him get off, if you allow him to play its fun for him, but if you make him realise that it isnt play time he will go back to sleep cause he is board.

try sitting on bed with him and reading him a story

[Le Chat]

Hi Sarah, First thing I'd like to say is "Poor You!" Joking aside though, it could be that your son has an illness brewing. I have found with my two (11 and 3) that they always get up early when they are sickening for something, especially the younger one who can start getting up ridiculously early for at least a couple of weeks before the illness comes out!
Ruling this out, it could just be a phase, which will correct itself.
Ruling that out, I would make a concerted effort to 'keep him going' all day, not to let him fall asleep or even be 'dreamy' if he is watching CBBC!
If that makes no difference, it could be that he needs to go to bed later as his body is adjusting. Bear in mind as well, that the damn hour has gone back and even this slight adjustment in time can throw out a child's cycle! In the summer, when the clock goes forward, it makes no odds but when it goes back it can wreak havoc!
I tried many ways to make my youngest sleep longer and I found that he only needs 10 hours sleep, whereas my oldest always needed 12 hours!
I hope my answer is helpful - I know how awful it is to wake up so early and I do feel for you - Let's hope it passes soon!
K

[jonny the fo]

thanks for the advice, he may be coming down with something as i am so ill! I do try to occupy him all day, he also goes to nursery all day 3 times a week and checking with them they say he has been clumsy and wingey at school the last week too, so guess everyone is getting a bit! Will try returning him to bed in the mornings for a bit and sit it out for the cold brewing!! It makes me a bit more sympathetic if that is the case!

Thanks Again