How To Handle Early Morning Wakes

Don’t you just love the beautiful faces of our babies when they first wake up in the morning? Nothing starts the day off on such a high note as the look in the eyes of your little one when they’re first getting up for the day. But when that happens at 5am, it can certainly take the blissful nature out of the situation. An early morning wake up is tough and a waking in the 5 o’clock hour is not fun for anyone. Your little one is likely not properly rested, and might therefore have a bit of a rough day, and you as the parent could certainly use an extra hour or two of sleep!

If you find yourself struggling to cope with those early wake-ups, I’m happy to tell you that there is almost always an explanation for why it’s happening, as well as a solution close at hand. Check out the following tips and see if anything applies to your baby’s situation, then make the appropriate changes and you should start seeing a turn towards those blissful mornings you’ve been striving for.

Assess their sleep environment

It is super beneficial to your baby’s sleep that their sleep environment is conducive to a good night’s rest. Consider factors like room temperature, noise levels, and lighting. Babies are more likely to wake up early if they’re too hot or too cold, so ensure they’re dressed comfortably. (Typically one layer more than an adult would wear while sleeping in the same environment.) You can also download my dressing guide here to take the guessing out of it for you. Use a white noise machine to drown out any disruptive sounds. Turn off all lights during the night and invest in blackout curtains to block out early morning sunlight as any light creeping in can cause an early morning wake.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine

Our little ones thrive on repetition and predictability, and a structured bedtime routine can work wonders for their sleep schedule. Create a soothing routine that signals to your baby that it’s time to wind down. It could include activities like a warm bath, gentle massage, reading a bedtime story or two. With my kids I love to have the lights dimmed (enough to read a story) and have lullabies playing softly in the background. Consistency is key here, as it helps your baby anticipate sleep and prepares their body for a nice, long rest.

Monitor daytime naps

Surprisingly, too much daytime sleep can contribute to early morning wake- ups. Ensure that your baby isn’t getting excessive sleep during the day, which may leave them less tired at night. Strike a balance between appropriate nap durations and an age-appropriate schedule. You can download that here. Observe your baby’s sleep patterns and gradually adjust nap times and lengths as needed to find the sweet spot.

Adjust bedtime

Finding the sweet spot for your child’s bedtime can take a little bit of experimenting. A bedtime that is either too late OR too early can cause early morning wakes.

First lets talk about bedtime that is too late. Overtiredness can lead to restless sleep and more frequent awakenings. Try out a slightly earlier bedtime and keep a really close eye on your little one’s sleep cues (pulling ears, rooting, drooping eyelids, etc.) to ensure your little one is well-rested but not overtired. A well-rested baby is more likely to sleep longer and wake up at a reasonable hour.

As I said we also need to consider if your little one has had enough time awake between their last nap and bedtime. This needs to be age appropriate to give little one a chance to build up enough sleep pressure for a good long sleep.

To help you to determine the best bedtime for your little one, you can find my guide with age appropriate times here.

Encourage self - soothing skills

Babies who have learned to self-soothe are more likely to go back to sleep independently if they wake up too early. Help your baby develop these skills by putting them down in their bed to fall asleep. Give them a chance to settle themselves back to sleep before intervening. Over time, they’ll become more skilled at drifting off to dreamland on their own.

Stick to your minimum

If your baby has slept from 7pm to 6am in the past, then they’re absolutely capable of doing so regularly. When baby wakes up at 5am as opposed to 3am, we’re more likely to give in and assume that they’re just not tired anymore. My advice would be to pick a minimum time and stick with it. So say 6am is your minimum get up time, if your little one wakes before that, treat it as a night waking.

Early morning wake-ups in babies can be challenging, but with patience and a few tweaks to their sleep routine, you can improve their sleep patterns. Remember, each baby is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Be consistent, observe your baby’s cues, and be flexible in your approach. Before you know it, those early wake-up calls will become a thing of the past, and you’ll all be enjoying a few more blissful hours of sleep in the morning!