How to Stop a Toddler From Waking Up So Early
One way to ensure that your toddler has a healthy life is to help them get the right amount of sleep. Here is how to stop a toddler from waking up so early.
Everyone knows that scheduling and routine are crucial for raising toddlers.
These little people are loads of fun, but if they don’t have structure, they can become cranky, unhappy, and challenging to manage.
In order to keep both you and your toddler happy, setting a schedule and sticking to it is so important.
However, even if you have a routine in place, you may find that your toddler wants to wake up for the day hours before you do. This can cause stress for both of you. For tips to keep your little one from waking up so early, read on.
Why Is My Toddler Waking Up So Early?
The first step to solving the issue of a toddler waking up too early is to get to the root of the problem. There are many things that cause toddlers to be early risers, and chances are that several are contributing to your issue.
First, kids are very light sensitive; they may have trouble falling asleep when it’s light outside, and they may wake up as soon as the sun rises. It’s wise for you to invest in the best black-out shades that you can find. This change alone will make a world of difference.
Second, you may be putting your child to bed either too early or too late. Either mistake can cause your toddler to wake up too early in the morning. Bedtime for toddlers should be consistent and should be no more than four hours after they wake up from their afternoon nap. Any earlier than that, and they will wake up earlier than you will probably like.
On the other hand, many parents believe that putting their child to bed later will result in them sleeping later, but often the opposite is the case. If you put a toddler to bed when he or she is overtired, then your child may become an early riser – and may be cranky in the mornings.
How to Teach Your Toddler to Wake Up at a Reasonable Time
If you have a toddler in your life, then you know that they are smart and understand far more than most people think. Most toddlers can be taught to read the hour on a digital clock, especially with an added visual aid made by you.
To implement this process, tell your son or daughter that they are big now and can learn to get up at the proper time on their own. Buy a digital clock and let them touch and explore it.
Then, determine what hour you’d like them to stay in their room until. If it’s 6:00, draw the number six on a piece of paper and tape it next to the clock. Tell your child that it’s their job to stay in their room until the first number matches the number on the paper.
It will likely take a few times to get the point across, but your toddler will likely appreciate this responsibility. If this method continues to fail, there are children’s alarm clocks on the market with additional features that can help.
Get Some Rest
It may take a little while to succeed on your quest to stop your toddler from waking up so early, but the time and effort you put into making this change will be well worth it in the end. Be patient and good luck. Soon, both of you will be getting plenty of sleep.
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