Need Advice on 15 Mth Old That Wants to Get up Between 4:30 - 5:30 AM.

Hi! Boy can I relate to sleep issues. I have an 18 month old that was a horrible sleeper as well. In fact it was so bad that we went to see Dr. Weissbluth (author of Happy Sleep Habits, Happy Child) in Chicago when my son was 7 months old and I have to say since then it's been much better. Nothing is an overnight fix, but in time, it does get much better.

Based on what Weissbluth told us and what has worked for us --at 18 months old my son goes to bed no later than 7p every night. Sometimes he's ready at 6:30p. He sleeps through the night (aside from sickness or teething) and wakes up anywhere in the 6:45 to 7:15 timeframe. What worked for us with the early rising was to first get him to bed earlier. It takes a little time for the results, but sleep begets sleep so it will help. Second, I don't let him sleep past 3:30pm in the afternoon for his nap. Lastly, I set an alarm in his room to play a Baby Einstein CD at 7:15am and I don't go to him until this alarm goes off, no matter what (unless he is sick). Even if he is crying or I think he's hurt (leg stuck in the crib, it has happened!). It didn't take long for him to make the connection that no one was coming in the room until the alarm goes off and he gets excited when it does. If he wakes up earlier and most mornings he does wake up about 20 min prior - he will talk and play with the few stuffed animals in his crib until then. Just makes sure your alarm is not a loud scary buzzer sound - so one with a CD playing music is best. (Or a radio station if you can find one that won't have talking at that time).

"I don't go to him until this alarm goes off, no matter what (unless he is sick). Even if he is crying or I think he's hurt (leg stuck in the crib, it has happened!)."

I am confused....you let your son cry even if you think he is hurt? I HOPE I am reading this wrong.

We went through the same thing with our daughter when she was about 16 months. She would wake up between 4:00 and 4:30! It was aweful. One morning I went in her room, we have a bed in her room, laid down on the bed and went back to sleep. I was shocked, but my daughetr also laid down and went back to sleep. I did this for about three more nights, and the third night she slept until 7:00. She has not gone back to waking in the early a.m. If you don't have a bed in her room, maybe use an air matress or tough it out on the floor. I think my daughter just wanted to know I was there! Good luck.

M.,

Our son went through the SAME thing. At about 15 months, too. He was also colicky as a baby and we struggled with sleeping through the night until about 8 months when he started doing it. It was nerve racking (at best) sometimes.

A couple of months ago, he started getting up at like 5:30AM instead of the 6:30-7:00 he usually does. I'd go in and rock him and he'd fall back asleep. He was exhausted. I'd swear sometimes he was still sleeping and just standing in his crib crying! Well, I did NOT want to get him in the habit of "I cry, Mom/Dad comes in and rocks me then I sleep." So, one morning I just let him cry it out a bit. It worked. If he gets really upset, I'd still go to him. I think there's a difference between "moaning" and being so upset that he's "sobbing". I don't let him sob. But if he's doing the moan/fake cry thing I just try and wait it out as long as possible and 9 times out of 10 he will realize it's not worth it and go back to sleep.

Personally, I wouldn't change his daytime naps or prolong bedtime as I think it may cause more of an issue. I know for us, when our son starts giving us the "tired" cues, he goes to bed. It's to the point now that he will ask to go "ni-ni" at around 8:00pm. Just be patient and this phase (like all the others we all encounter) will pass...and bring on a whole new one, right?! Lol.

Good luck, though.

T.

PS: I'd leave the bear where he threw it and let him cry it out for a little bit. Also, we have a CD player in Jacob's room and if you can get one with a remote, you can play it from the hall. IF he's comforted by soft music, it's a great trick we've used!

Hi!
I'm glad to see another mom who doesn't wig out at the cry it out method. That has worked so well for my little one who sleeps 11-12 hrs since she was younger.

When we had to set our clocks behind a few weeks ago, she started getting up at 7am instead of 8am. We didn't go get her when she cried and after a few days she learned no one is coming, and went back to sleep. She would also throw her stuffed piggy out of the crib. Attention-seeking; we don't go to retrieve it. Now she gets up by 8:30am knowing someone will come then.
Babies learn really fast, and they're smarter than we all think. Consistency is key, books and experts will say that mantra worldwide. Try the alarm/CD cues and be firm and consistent and he will learn after a few days that it's no use to cry.