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The beautiful sun of summertime has a dark side. Here in Mid Missouri the sunrise is currently at about 5:45 a.m. While early morning wake-ups are a common problem for infants and toddlers the situation can become even more problematic in the summer months.
If you have a little one waking in the wee morning hours and expecting breakfast and play, you have a problem. The trouble compounds when your child can’t stay awake long enough to reach nap time and the whole day is thrown out of whack.
So what can you do to fight the early morning blues?
First, look at darkness. People often think they’ve got it dark enough, but it can always be darker, because even the slightest change in light variation can stimulate a wake up in anybody. As an adult, you can look at the clock and notice it’s not time to get up yet. Young children can’t do that.
I want it dark in there. I want it to be as dark as it would be if you walked in, in the very middle of the night.
Second, if your child is over 13 lbs. there is no reason your child would NEED to eat so early in the morning, unless directed by a physician. Many parents allow an early breakfast in an attempt to buy more time for sleep but it tends to backfire. Food creates energy which is why some children will not return to sleep after eating, they are energized and ready to go. This is because, to your little one, there’s no difference between a 2:00, 4:00, or 6:00 feeding time.
If your child has knowledge of numbers, put a digital clock in the bedroom. Use dark tape to cover the minutes so only the hour is left visible. Teach your child “Magic Number 7,” when the clock reads 7 it’s time to wake up. In the evening, when the clock reads 7 it’s time for bed.
Third, when a child wakes early, they fatigue early. If your child is not able to stay awake long enough to reach the designated nap time it’s tempting to start putting him down earlier and earlier for the nap. Don’t do it! If you do, you will get stuck in a viscous cycle of waking too early, napping too early, and throwing off the whole day. This affects the natural body clock and causes the need for an extra nap which furthers your problems rather than helping.
Even though it’s really tough, you’ve got to hang on to the normal nap time. If the naps at 9:30 a.m., even if he’s been up since 4:30, you’ve got to hang in there until 9:30. To accomplish this give him a bit of fresh air around eight o’clock, also make sure that you give enough snacks and food to keep the energy levels up.
Finally, do not change bedtime. It is super tempting when you’ve got an early riser. You think, “Oh, if we just keep him up late, he’ll sleep later in the morning.” That hardly ever works! In fact, all you end up doing, is creating a huge amount of over-tiredness in your child, which leads to more fragmented sleep and even earlier morning wake ups.
I sincerely hope the information I have provided in this four-part Sleep Series has been beneficial to you and your family. If you are still struggling with sleep, don’t hesitate to call and learn more.
For more information on teaching your children to be independent sleepers visit www.wishingforsleep.com.
Contact Letitia Sangster today for your FREE 15-minute telephone consultation! Now also offering $50 off of a Standard or Deluxe Sleep Package or a Prenatal Package.
Call (609) 474-4644 or send an e-mail to letitia@wishingforsleep.com and mention Macaroni Kid!
