Does Your Baby Wake Before 6 am?

Does your baby wake before 6 am? Those early morning wake-ups can be so frustrating, especially when they're much earlier than expected! The 4:30/5 AM wake-ups seem to creep into our schedules once it feels like everything is in “place”! ... You are NOT alone!

Let’s take a look at a few things and ensure all the details are in place to get you (and your little one) back to sleep!

Consistency is Key:

• Routine:
  • Stay consistent with the bedtime routine!
    • Follow along with one of the Typical Day Routines, outlined in the Moms on Call Books, Online Courses, & Scheduler App, based on the baby's age.
  • Make sure little is not napping too late in the evening.
    • Take a look here for what signs to look for in moving up to the next schedule!
• Sleep Environment:
  • A sound machine is in place and turned up loud!
    • The white noise machine can be kept 12-24 inches from the head of the crib and be kept on all night long, turned up loud enough for you to hear on the other side of the door.
  • Dark Room
    • At night, the room should be pitch black.
  • Temperature
    • Babies sleep best in cooler temps!
    • The room should be kept at a cool 68-72ºF.
  • Crib
    • Your baby's crib should be less than 5 years old with a new mattress, mattress cover, and tight-fitted crib sheet.
  • Take a look here for more tips on creating the ideal sleep environment!

Typically, your little one will wake about an hour before "get-up" time. This is what we all do, toss and turn, scoot, look at the phone or clock (okay, your little one may not be looking at their phone just yet), whine, fuss, and doze again.

What Can You Do If Your Little One Wakes Before 6 am?

• The MOC Hat Trick!
  • Right before you go to bed, turn off the sound machine in the baby’s room for 10-20 seconds and then turn it right back on.
    • This will often disrupt the sleep cycles and get another stretch in those early morning hours.
• Be intentional with getting your little up at "get-up" time.
  • Open the blinds and sing a "Good Morning" song to start the day.

You Asked, and We Answered!

Here are some questions from our Moms on Call Families:

• Does this work for a 21-month-old? All of a sudden, 4 am wake-ups are normal for her, with immediate screams and cries!
  • Yes! Try it out. If you are in need of additional support or a helping hand to walk alongside you, get connected with one of our Certified Premier Consultants to help navigate!
• My 6-week-old slept 8.5 hours last night and woke at 5:40 AM to feed. I was trying to get him to sleep till 6 AM, but it wasn’t happening. In these cases, do I still wake up to feed at 7 AM?
  • Do half the feed at 5:40 AM. Then up with intention at 7 AM if on the 8-16 week routine. If on the 4-8, then 5:30 counts as the 6-7 feed.
• What if baby has to wake around 6:30 AM to get ready for daycare? Do I move everything in their schedule up to 30 minutes? He’s 5 months old, so a 6:30 PM bedtime?
  • Yes, that works! You can adjust the schedule in full by one hour. Or do an early feed, and have daycare do a snack feed around 7:15 to stay on schedule. This way, you can have a little more one on one time in the evenings.
  • If you're looking for a more personalized schedule, a Certified Premier Consultant can help customize a schedule that best suits your family's needs!
• Does the sound machine trick work for a three-year-old? Does it wake them up when you do it at night?
  • It may. Right before you go to bed, turn the sound machine off for a few seconds and right back on again.
  • We want them to stir slightly, and typically it takes just a few nights to help reset things. Keep in mind some kids are just louder than others in twilight sleep and may not even be awake!

Looking for more personalized support to help you navigate this and any other transitions? Partner with one of Moms on Call's Certified Premier Consultants to walk alongside you and support you each step of the way!