Reply To: 6 month 15 days, early waking 5 or 5:30am

[Emma H]

Dear Katerina,

It’s great to hear that Helen has been waking up between 6:00 am and 6:15 am instead of 5:00 am for the last few mornings! 🙂

Regarding your concern about her sometimes becoming vocal and not going back to sleep after her early morning feed and poop, as you mentioned, it’s quite normal for babies and toddlers to naturally wake up between 6:00 am and 7:00 am. However, I understand that you’d like her to sleep a little later, even just by half an hour.

You can try to shift her circadian rhythm back even further by following the steps below. These strategies might not always work since babies are naturally early risers, but they are worth a try:

1. Gradually Shift Her Bedtime: To help Helen wake up 30 minutes later, we need to shift her bedtime 30 minutes later. For the next week, shift her bedtime by 15 minutes every 3 nights. Once she is going to bed at 8:30 pm, keep it at that time for 2 weeks and see if her morning wake-up time adjusts accordingly.

2. Keep the Lights On Until Bedtime: Keeping the lights on bright until bedtime will help keep her awake and gradually shift her circadian rhythm. This can signal to her body that it’s not yet time to sleep.

3. Keep Her Bedroom Dark Until It’s Time to Get Up: Light exposure in the morning tells our circadian rhythm that it’s time to start the day. Ensure her room stays dark until your desired wake-up time to encourage her to sleep longer.

4. Delay the Morning Feed: Eating is another signal to the circadian rhythm that it’s time to wake up. To encourage her to shift her wake-up time by 30 minutes, try delaying the morning feed by 15 minutes every 3 days until it’s happening at 6:30/6:45 am. Then maintain this schedule.

5. Shift Her Entire Schedule: Consider shifting her entire schedule, including naps and feeds, by 15 minutes every 3 days while you make these changes. This helps ensure that all her activities align with the new wake-up time.

I hope these tips help!

Emma