How to fix early morning waking baby! Early waking can be a challenging experience for any parent. Whether your little one is waking every single morning or just once in a while, it can be hard to get back to sleep and not feel frustrated. These kinds of wakings are normal and many kids go through them around this age. The good news is that there are lots of ways on how to handle early morning wakings so it become less frustrating experiences for you and your child.
Keeping in mind that each individual had their own circadian rhythm, we need to identify strategies that work best for us. However, as a parent, you’ll probably find that some methods work better than others based on your child and your situation. There is no right or wrong way to handle early morning wakings. This article has some helpful advice, tricks, and tips to help you get through the day with more ease if your kid is waking up early from nap time or bedtime or is experiencing night waking.
How to Handle Early Morning Wakings
Did you know that the first few hours of the day are the most important for parents and their babies? Those early morning wake-ups often set the tone for the rest of the day, be it a good or a bad one. When your baby is an early riser, it can feel like an eternity before you’re able to get back to sleep. That’s because this these wake windows are crucial.
Newborns need to be woken up and fed again every 2-3 hours during these first few days and weeks after they’ve been born. But what if your newborn keeps waking up earlier than expected? How do you reset their internal clock so they go back to sleep faster? Here are ways on how to handle early morning wakings
Spend time with your newborn before bedtime
Having spending time before bedtime can help your little one wind down and relax. If your child is waking up during their nap time or bedtime, then they may be overtired. This is when they are normally unable to fall back asleep again on their own and need some assistance. With toddlers, you might have to talk to your child to see how they are feeling.
Try to identify reasons why your little one is having trouble sleeping. Keep a check on their awake times and help them follow a sleep schedule. In some cases you would observe your baby crying at night time. Here are reasons why your baby cries at night.
Develop a Routine
Some kids thrive on a routine, while others don’t. The best way on how to handle early morning wakings is to try out different routines with your child to see what works best for you and your family. The most important thing is that you are consistent. If your child is waking up early, they may be too tired to stay asleep. Having a consistent bedtime routine can help your child feel tired, which can then lead to a longer sleep cycle in the long run.
You can read, play, sing, snuggle, drink warm milk, or have a bath, the choice is yours. Just make sure whatever you do at bedtime, you do it the same way every single time. Your child will grow to love their bedtime routine and it will be easy for them to fall asleep at the right time because they will be so relaxed. Try to create a routine that involves early bedtime. This allows your little one to get enough rest.
Set up a Dark Environment
If your child is waking up too early, they may just not be getting enough sleep. This is especially true for babies and young children. They need plenty of sleep to grow and develop healthily. For your little one to get the sleep they need, you need to make sure that their room is completely dark. You need to create a sleep environment to avoid early wake-up.
This may mean getting blackout curtains, putting a sleep shade on their window, or even covering their lamp with a thick blanket so that it doesn’t emit any light. Having a dark room can help your child fall asleep and stay asleep longer. You may want to avoid bright light in baby’s room. It also prevents early morning wake ups, which is beneficial for parents!
Make sure that your child is wearing a sleep suit (with nothing in the bottom), as this will make your child feel warm and snuggly. A sleep suit can also help keep your child warm in the colder months. If your child is still swaddled, you can use a blanket or a sleep sack to keep them warm.
Turn the Morning Waking into a Sleep Opportunity
If your child is waking up in early hours, but staying in bed, you can use this as a sleep opportunity. This means that your child is going to stay in bed with the lights off. It’s best not to engage your child in conversation and don’t give them any attention. Your child will want to know that you are there for them, but they need to stay in bed and rest. If your child is waking up in the early morning and staying in bed, they may be overtired. This can be fixed by making sure that they are getting enough sleep each day.
You can also make sure that they are getting the right amount of sleep for their age. Babies and toddlers should be getting 12-14 hours of sleep per day. A good rule of thumb is that kids should go to bed when they get tired.
Establish Morning Calming Rituals
If your child wakes up early but is staying in bed, you can establish calming morning rituals with them. This can be anything from reading a book to playing with a special toy or even just snuggling. Make sure that you are not engaging in any loud activities that will wake up other family members. And try not to talk too much with your child. Let them know that they can stay in bed and rest. Kids love rituals and they will feel very special to be a part of this with you. Establishing these morning rituals can help your child stay calm and relaxed.
Make the most of early-morning wakings
Newborns tend to be extra fussy during their first few weeks of life, and wakings are no different. When your baby first enters the world, they have no way of understanding or regulating their own sleep cycles. That’s why newborns often wake up every 1-3 hours during the day and night feed. You might be wondering how do fix early morning waking baby! It’s a long and tiring process for parents. But if you look past the frustration, you’ll see that these wakings offer us a unique opportunity. They are the perfect chance to build a strong and healthy relationship with your baby. Here are tips on how to bond with your little one.
Waking up with your newborn and feeding them during the first few weeks of life is their way of saying, “Hi. I’m here and I need you.” It’s a very vulnerable moment that every new parent experiences. But with time, effort, and patience, you’ll be able to make the most of these wakings and create a stronger bond with your baby. These early-morning wakings are also the perfect chance for you to help your baby learn how to fall asleep on its own.
Change your newborn’s diaper
This may sound a little strange, but it can help your baby fall back to sleep. Newborns are unable to communicate with their parents through words, and they don’t fully understand the concept of time yet. So they can’t tell you they’re tired or sore. That’s why they do things like scoot away and cry when they need a diaper change. If you respond to your baby’s cries and change their diaper, they’ll often go back to sleep. This is an easy way for sleep training a newborn.
Pacifier or Thumb sucking
When your baby wakes up and cries, often the sound of their voice is what keeps them awake. That’s why you may notice that your little one goes back to sleep as soon as you pick them up and calm them down. Even breastfeeding may help your baby go back to sleep. But if you bottle feeds your baby, you may want to look into getting a bottle teat with a noise maker. Or you can have your baby suck on their thumb or fingers.
Babies often calm down when they suck on something. It’s important to keep in mind that newborns need to be fed every 2-3 hours during the day and night. So once your baby has finished feeding and calming down, you need to put them back to sleep. Because sitting them up or leaving them awake for too long can cause them to become overstimulated and cry again.
Play white noise
White noise machine is a great way to soothe your little one and help them fall back to sleep. You can try playing white noise from a streaming service like Spotify or a white noise sound machine. Some parents also report good results from playing the sounds of nature like rain or waves. Babies often respond well to the consistent and calming sounds of nature.
White noise and nature sounds can also help drown out any external noise that may be keeping your baby awake. And they’re especially effective if your newborn is woken up by noises like traffic, dogs barking, or a busy family living nearby. Babies are very sensitive to noise and light exposure. White noise can help your newborn sleep longer and better by blocking out these noises.
Stay in the room with your baby and try again in 20 minutes
Waking your newborn up in the early morning is a little different than waking them up during the day. During the day, your baby may be tired. But during the night, they may just be hungry. And this is especially common among breastfeeding babies. If the first waking is during the night, try feeding your baby and putting them back to sleep as soon as possible.
But if the first waking is during the day, try putting them back to sleep in their crib or bassinet. If your baby wakes up again during the night, try putting them back in their crib or bassinet for another 20 minutes or so. You can also try feeding your baby again. But be sure to feed them enough so they don’t wake up hungry again a few hours later.
Lay your baby down fully awake and see what happens next
Many parents rush to feed their babies when they wake up. But rushing through their feeding is never a good idea. You want your baby to feed and eat in their own time. Babies who are fed too quickly may gag, choke, or have a hard time eating. And those who are rushed through their feeding often end up swallowing too much air. This can lead to painful gas and colic.
Feeding your baby slowly and calmly is the best way to avoid this. Newborns don’t always cry because they’re hungry, sometimes they cry because they’re tired or they need a diaper change. So if your baby is fully awake and crying while you feed them, try not to feed them right away. Instead, try laying your baby down in a safe, quiet, and dark environment. Babies often calm down and relax once they’re fully awake and comfortable in a safe and familiar place.
Try a pat-and-go technique during wakings
During the first few weeks of your baby’s life, you’ll notice that they have a very strange and unpredictable sleep pattern. Sometimes they’ll sleep for a few hours, and other times they’ll sleep for just 20 minutes. They may also wake up in the middle of the night and sleep for another few hours. The best way to deal with this is to prepare yourself ahead of time.
Make sure to keep a feeding and diaper-changing schedule. And make sure you know where all of your supplies are so you can respond to your baby’s needs quickly and efficiently. While your baby is awake, touch and pat their skin gently and consistently. And when your baby falls asleep, pick them up and place them in their crib or bassinet. This pat-and-go technique can help your baby sleep longer and better during the first few weeks of life.
Train your baby to fall asleep on their own before bedtime
If your baby wakes up and cries during the early morning hours and you don’t have to feed them, wait three to five minutes. If they don’t go back to sleep, go and pick them up and try the pat-and-go technique described above. If they continue to cry, you can try patting their back consistently and calmly. Babies often cry because they’re uncomfortable. And consistent patting can help soothe them and calm them down. If your baby has cried for 10 minutes and they haven
Talk to sleep specialist
It is important for you look at incorporation healthy sleep habits by planning nap schedule and creating a soothing sleep environment. While the above tips are helpful and do come handy, if you feel like your baby is having sleep problems and baby’s sleep is incomplete, then connect with a sleep specialist.
Conclusion
Early morning wakings can be challenging, but they can also be a good opportunity to connect with your child. So if you are wondering how to handle early morning wakings, before bedtime, make sure that your child is relaxed and has everything they need to fall asleep easily and stay asleep all night. During the night, try to keep noise levels low, but don’t ignore your child when they wake up. Read here about AAP study on early morning wakings
Let them know that you are there for them, but that it’s still their bedtime. Throughout the day, try to keep your child engaged in fun activities, but also make sure that they are getting plenty of rest time too. Having a consistent, but flexible, the schedule will help your child feel more secure and loved. They will also be able to adjust their sleep cycle and be able to fall asleep and stay asleep at the right times.
