Early Rising: What to Do When Your Child Wakes Up Too Early

Understanding Early Rising

Every parent of a newborn dreams of the day when they can put their baby to bed at 7 or 8 p.m., and they'll sleep through the night. Some babies will, and others will wake up too early. If your baby is waking up too early, especially before 6 a.m., then you likely have a problem with early rising. Fortunately, for most babies, early rising can be resolved quickly once you identify the root cause. Here are nine possibilities worth exploring.

1. Rule out Medical Issues

A child may wake up early if they're experiencing issues like reflux, GERD, or sleep apnea. Even common colds or allergies can cause early waking. Rule out medical issues first before addressing other potential causes.

2. Developmental Leaps

Developmental milestones can disrupt sleep schedules. If your baby is waking up early during a developmental leap, this phase typically lasts only a few weeks before they return to their previous sleep routines.

3. Address Hunger

If your younger baby (under 9 months) is waking up from hunger, consider a “dream feed.” Quietly feed them around 11 p.m. without fully waking them.

4. Get a Complete Picture

Understanding why your baby is waking up early starts with tracking their habits and routine. The Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app can help. Enter nap times and bedtimes, and the app will generate daily and weekly progress reports on your baby’s sleep. It also offers doctor-approved tips and techniques to address other sleep challenges.

5. Understand Drowsy But Awake

When putting your baby to bed, they should be calm but alert enough to understand you're saying goodnight. Nursing or rocking them to sleep might help temporarily, but when they wake up later, they may be confused about how they got to their crib and need you to help them fall back asleep.

6. Treat All Waking the Same

Use a gentle sleep training method at naptime and bedtime. Treat any wake-up before 6 a.m. as a night waking. Babies and children need age-appropriate naps. Pay attention to your child's sleepy cues and adjust the schedule to ensure they get appropriate naps, which will help them sleep better and longer at night.

7. Wakefulness Windows vs. Overtired

The ideal wakefulness window before bedtime for most toddlers is around four hours, but it’s shorter for younger children. Kids who are awake too long before bedtime may become overtired, while those with too short a wake window may not be ready for bed. Ensure the last nap of the day doesn’t begin too late or end too early.

8. Sleep in a Dark Room

Once babies are old enough to sleep through the night (around six months), their circadian rhythm is developed enough to recognize appropriate sleep and awake times. If your child is waking up earlier than usual, try using room-darkening shades at naptime and nighttime.

9. Make Morning Wakeup Different

A “dramatic wakeup” can help differentiate between night waking and morning. Even if your child has been up before 6 a.m., leave the room and count to 10 before returning at 6 a.m. or later. Announce your presence with “Rise and shine” and open the curtains. This breaks the association between your nighttime response and morning behavior. For toddlers and preschoolers, consider a wakeup clock that lights up to signal it's time to start the day.

Conclusion

Consistency and time are key to resolving early rising. Adjusting to a new schedule takes time and effort, but with patience, you can help your baby sleep longer. Plan ahead by adjusting bedtimes and wake-up times appropriately and stick to the plan to address early rising.

_{How We Wrote This Article The information in this article is based on expert advice from trusted medical and government sources, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Always consult medical professionals for diagnosis and treatment.}