Toddler waking at 5am

My DS is 2.5 and for the past month has been waking at 5am and won't go back to sleep. His norm is 630-7. He is up and ready to go for the day. He then naps for 1-2 hours in the early afternoon. I have tried everything- darkening his windows, earlier bedtime, later bedtime, earlier nap, the alarm clock that changes color at a certain time (clock doesn't work). His last molars are not in yet but I don't think that's what's bothering him. He goes to sleep fine around 8pm and sleeps through the night. Has anyone been through this and have any other suggestions? I am hoping this is not his new normal!!

As a side note, I had another baby in January but this early wakeup stuff started when the baby was three months old so not sure if the new baby is a factor. My older DS was actually sleeping much later when the baby was younger.

Toddler waking at 5am

Is he potty-trained? My son started to do that when he was able to hold his pee through most of the night but not all the way until his normal wakeup time. Before, he was waking up at 1-2am to pee, and then would sleep till 6:30. But then he started to wake up at 5am to pee and wouldn't go back to sleep. I fixed it by waking him up around midnight to pee (he immediately falls back asleep and remembers nothing the next day), and then he makes it through the rest of the night. Just a thought, but it could be anything! Good luck!

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

Good point about the potty training.

For me, my son is 20 months and there are times he will wake at 6am and times he will wake at 7am -- and sometimes 7:30. It depends on when he goes to bed as that fluctuates between 6:30-7:30pm depending on the day, what we are doing.

Anyway, when he wakes in the morning if I'm not ready or whatever he gets a toy or two in his crib and he plays. Maybe I'm mean but if we leave at say, 7:15am for daycare and then I go to work and he wakes up that day at 6am -- I'm still in the shower and getting ready. He is going to have to entertain himself until I'm ready. He doesn't mind -- he is used to it. He looks at his books, he plays with his barn in his crib -- whatever I give him in the morning while I finish up.

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

Thanks for your responses. He is not yet potty trained- in fact he fights me changing his diaper in the morning, haha. I have tried leaving toys in the crib, but when he wakes up he immediately cries for us and won't stop. He's very persistent, ugh.

Toddler waking at 5am

My dd goes through phases like this for at least the last 6 months on and off. Like she does it for 2 weeks then stops for a month. Then will do this for a week and stop again.
Shes about to turn 3. Not potty trained. No new lil ones.

Message edited 5/19/2015 1:51:58 PM.

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

If my girls wake too early I check the monitor that they are ok and then ignore. They will stop crying and start playing and even go back to sleep for a bit. If you keep going in at that time he will get used to it and expect it.

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

We are going through this phase on and off. I can't let him cry as he likes to throw up :)
I am hoping it will soon pass. I am not a fan of 5 am or anything before 7 for that matter

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

This morning was 4:30 wakeup- I am at my wits end!!:( anyone else have any advice?

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

When ds2 was waking too early we dropped his nap. He was getting up at 5-5:30. Now that we dropped his nap I am up at 6:15-6:30 and he i still sleeping. Yesterday he didn't get up until 7
ETA he is 2.5 yo

Message edited 5/21/2015 10:34:14 AM.

Toddler waking at 5am

Does he look to eat something when he wakes up? Maybe he's hungry?

Toddler waking at 5am

Maybe he is getting cold? I know my son's room is very warm when he goes to sleep and it's been cold lately in the mornings. He's already kicked off his blankets, so he gets cold.

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

Posted by imyself

When ds2 was waking too early we dropped his nap. He was getting up at 5-5:30. Now that we dropped his nap I am up at 6:15-6:30 and he i still sleeping. Yesterday he didn't get up until 7
ETA he is 2.5 yo

Re: Toddler waking at 5am

My son is going through this now. He is 2.5 too

He wakes one day at 5. Next day 8. Then maybe 7. Ten 430

His molars are coming in so I'm
Assuming it's that

Toddler waking at 5am

Like another poster commented check if hes cold, hot, hungry, thirsty... bad dreams?

Then try when he cries for you go in but tell.him he cannot get out of bed its the middle of the night and he has to go back to sleep. You are not going to play with him. You are not taking him out of his crib. He must go back to bed. You can sit in his room if it makes him feel better but thats it.

Toddler waking at 5am

We cuddle. dd comes into my room and I pull her into bed and she goes back to sleep.