unhappy 2-y-o at 5:30am?

[S Starr]

For a couple of weeks now, my 23-month-old dd has been waking up crying hard at 5:30-6:15. Sometimes she settles right back and goes to sleep within a few minutes; sometimes it's too late and it turns to chatter and she's awake for the morning. She used to wake 7:15-7:45, much more happily.

I'm thinking either nightmares (not night terrors -- she's knows us and calms instantly when we pick her up) or some kind of pain, but I'm wondering at the timing. This only happens in that early morning. Growing pains? Indigestion?

Has anyone else run into this -- with any kind of knowledge? :giggle:

[laj]

Is she still teething? One of my guys was doing the exact same thing a couple of months ago (it probably lasted 2 weeks) and sure enough his final tooth popped through a week or so later. He's back to his regular wake-up time now...

[S Starr]

Is she still teething? One of my guys was doing the exact same thing a couple of months ago (it probably lasted 2 weeks) and sure enough his final tooth popped through a week or so later. He's back to his regular wake-up time now...

She has all four two-year molars yet to come. I haven't felt much of anything pushing through yet, but she has chewed sippy cup spouts to bits recently. Maybe that's it. Thanks for the hope. fingers crossed!

[keysersoze]

my 25 m/o DS has been doing this since right after his birthday (about 5 weeks); we've had limited success with going in quietly and telling him that it's still "night-night time" and that he needs to go back to sleep. sometimes he actually falls back asleep for an hour or two, but most often he lies, plays quietly for half an hour before yelling "you're awake!" until we go into his room, at which point he asks for books to read. My DS is in the middle of his 2 year molars, so i'm convinced it's that, since he's a sleep-lover usually.

[S Starr]

but most often he lies, plays quietly for half an hour before yelling "you're awake!" until we go into his room

:lostit:
Well, I guess I hope it's the molars. I dread that as a 'solution,' since who knows how long it will take for her to get four of them.... but if she'll go back to sleeping soundly afterwards, that would be worth a few months of misery now.

DD will play happily for 30-40 minutes too, once she's fully awake, but once I know she's awake, I have to get up soon to shower and dress, and I hate getting up 7:15, let alone 6:00. (DH goes to work around 6:00 3 or 4 days a week, and between pregnancy and restless legs, I don't get into a sound sleep until between midnight and 2:00...) sigh.

[Lisa-Rachelle]

Our 19 month old is doing the same thing, along with night waking fairly often, which is somewhat out-of-character for her.

She IS getting one molar that I can see under the gum. The others I cant see. Im guessing she is just struggling with it.

A typical pattern for her when it comes to new teeth is to wake up REALLY early. Anytime between 5am and 6am....when she normally sleeps until 8am or so. It does get frustrating....but the good news is that it does pass eventually!

[tessa1002]

Do you guys use pacifiers? If DS loses his favorite nuk he will wake up about 2-3 hours earlier than normal, and cry until someone comes in and gives it to him. After that sometimes he will crash again, and sometimes he will just play quietly for a bit.

[S Starr]

Nope, she never took 'em. Attached to her blanket, and that's pretty easy to find in the early morning. <g>

[ce&E]

I'm no help because my ds has always woken up between 5 and 6 but now I'm going to hope after his last 2 molars come in he'll sleep a little longer, lol!!

[apmommatnt]

Sounds like she is working on her molars mama...do you have a teething necklace? Massage works for my little guy. It totally relaxes him, and he seems to sleep a lot better. Teething tablets are good too if she is getting them in. Good luck to you and loving white light to your l.o.

[S Starr]

Sounds like she is working on her molars mama...do you have a teething necklace? Massage works for my little guy. It totally relaxes him, and he seems to sleep a lot better. Teething tablets are good too if she is getting them in. Good luck to you and loving white light to your l.o.

I've read about the teething necklaces with interest, but am leery about sticking one on her at night (strangling issues). She's apt to pull at bracelets and barrettes, so wouldn't just ignore a necklace.... So if she's having only 5:30am teething issues, would teething tablets at 7:30pm help that much later?

Thanks for the help!

[tyramae1]

That is interesting. My 23 month old has not been sleeping well at bedtime or naptime, either. I forgot about 2 year old molars. I wonder if she is getting hers in? She has been pretty whiny as well. I though she was just tired because she wasn't getting enough rest.