Do some toddlers just wake up really early and there's nothing you can do about it?

[Anonymous]

My 2YO wakes up at 5 or 5:30. He's not in a crib anymore. Sometimes will go back to sleep in his own bed for another 20 min or so, but basically is up for the day. Seems tired and crabby by 8 AM so I don't think he's getting enough sleep. Naps at 1 pm for hour and a half or hour and fifteen. Bedtime at 7. We've tried tot clocks, gently but firmly putting him back in bed no matter how many times he gets up, etc. Nothing has worked consistently.

Anything else we can do? Or do we just accept that he's an early riser? But if he's naturally an early riser, then how come he seems tired by 8 or 9 in the morning? TIA.

[Anonymous]

Moving the bedtime back worked for us.

[Anonymous]

sorry to say that ours woke up at 5/5:30 for a year at least. The best advice I got (which I didn't follow) was to accept it. You will be much happier if you let go to bed earlier yourself and accept the early wake-up time. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

We moved the bed time UP and it moved the waking time back. Also used one of the bunny lights that lights up when it is time to get up. Now wake-up time is closer to 6.

[Anonymous]

Nothing worked of us. Our son woke up 5:15-5:30am until he was about 5, moved to 6:30am until about 7. Now he is 8 1/2 and begs to be allowed to set his alarm before 6:45, he would wake up by 7am without it. He would like to get up at 6am. (he is so weird we even use it as a reward.) He isn't allowed to get out of bed until 6:45 on weekdays or 7:15am on weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sorry to say that ours woke up at 5/5:30 for a year at least. The best advice I got (which I didn't follow) was to accept it. You will be much happier if you let go to bed earlier yourself and accept the early wake-up time. Sorry.

this.
move the bedtime earlier

[shhanrahan]

We got a clock for toddlers that you can set to show them when they can get out of bed and it has been great. The idea is that they aren't allowed to get up until the clock says its ok. We really found it helpful and moved them from a pre-6 waking to a 6:30-7 wake time.

Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/My-Tot-Clock-Children-Better-So/dp/B001QS802K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336403861&sr=8-2

But also, I would move bedtime back an hour. 7:30 or 8 is really fine for a toddler.

[Anonymous]

You may have already tried this, but if not--definitely keep his room cave dark, pitch black. For us, it made all the difference. We got a blackout roller shade plus blackout curtains.