My babies have always been early risers. They rarely sleep past 6 am, and for the longest time, that was a tough pill for me to swallow. But now, I’ve made peace with that fact and in order to get ready for 6 am, I get up 30 to 60 minutes before them.
5 to 6 am is My Sacred Hour
The hour from 5 to 6 am is sacred to me; I refer to it as my ME TIME, and it's set in stone. In this hour, I engage in meditation, enjoy reading, exercise, review my schedule, and gear up for the day. While I may not do all these activities daily or in the same sequence, I make an effort!
It’s the quiet before the storm, the calm before the chaos, and I treasure it deeply.
So, if my kids wake up before 6am, that means I would need to wake up at 4 or 4:30 to get that me time? no way! That’s where I draw the line!
The Journey to Keeping Them in Bed
This journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve tried countless strategies, and through trial and error, I’ve discovered one crucial thing: never take them out of the room before 6 am. There are plenty of things we can look at, like schedule and how they are falling asleep, but I have found that this one is the very most important.
Why?
Because if you start taking your baby or toddler out of the room because “it’s almost time,” their bodies will adapt. They’ll begin to wake up at 5:45 am, which can quickly backfire and turn into 5:30 or even 5:00 am! 😱 Trust me, I’ve been there, and it’s a slippery slope.
What Should You Do Instead?
If your little one wakes up before 6 am, you have two options: let them try to go back to sleep on their own or go in and help them settle down. It is very important that your behavior is the same as if it's 2 am, even when it is 5:50 am. Trust me, they don't know time so they will just think it is okay to wake up early.
Sleep pressure is lower at this time so it is harder for them to fall asleep, they might need a bit more help and that is okay! Remember that we always respond to our babies when they are having a hard time.
Consistency is the secret sauce here. Your little one needs to understand that 5 am is still nighttime, and the day doesn’t start until 6 am.
Parenting is full of challenges, and early morning wake-ups are just one of them. But with patience and consistency, you can reclaim that precious hour for yourself and help your little one learn to sleep until a more reasonable hour.
If you’re struggling with early wake-ups and need more personalized tips, here are a few ways we can work together:
Let’s work together to make those early mornings a little bit easier. 💡
Comments