Early Morning wakings
If you're a parent, one of the most challenging situations you'll face is how to prevent your baby from waking up too early in the morning. When is early morning? Anything from 4am - 6am. Although it's normal for babies to wake up multiple times throughout the night, it can still be frustrating when they wake up too early. Below are some tips to help you prevent early morning wakings and ensure that both you and your baby get the sleep you need:
Tip 1: Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine
Creating a consistent bedtime routine is the first step to helping your baby get a good night's sleep. You can start by setting a specific bedtime for your baby and sticking to it every night. Establishing a bedtime routine such as giving a warm bath, reading a book, or singing a lullaby can help your baby’s body prepare for sleep.
Tip 2: Ensure the Baby Naps During the Day
Another way to prevent early morning wakings is to ensure that your baby gets enough sleep during the day. Good quality daytime sleep = good quality nighttime sleep. Without enough naps during the day, babies can become overtired and have difficulty sleeping at night, being the top reason for early morning wake-ups.
Tip 3: Consider the Baby's Sleep Environment
A baby's sleep environment can significantly impact early morning wake-ups. Make sure the room temperature is comfortable. Also, ensure the room is relatively dark. You can use blackout curtains to block out any external light that may disturb your baby's sleep. Additionally, ensure that the baby's sleeping area is safe and comfortable.
Tip 4: Implement Gradual Changes to Your Baby’s Sleep Schedule
Make small changes until you find the perfect balance that works for you and the baby. is bedtime too late or too early? Is their first nap of the day too early? This can be tricky, get help here to find the ideal schedule for your baby.
Finally, remember that every baby's sleep pattern is different. Your baby’s early morning wakings can be a totally different reason than your best friends baby early morning wakings. which is why you need to find what works for YOUR baby and implement a personalized approach.
