Early Morning Wakings: 4 Ways to Stop Them!

Is your baby waking up at 5 AM ready to start the day? You’re not alone!

Early morning wakings can be frustrating, especially when you know your little one needs more rest. The good news? There are things you can do to help your baby sleep later in the morning.

Here are four things to consider when it comes to those early wake-ups:

#1: Keep It Dark

Light plays a huge role in our body’s sleep-wake cycle. Even the smallest sliver of early morning light can signal to your baby’s brain that it’s time to wake up. Make sure their room is pitch black—yes, even at 6 AM! Blackout blinds can work wonders in keeping things dark and cozy.

#2: Adjust the Morning Nap

When babies wake too early, it’s tempting to let them nap as soon as they seem tired. But an early or overly long morning nap can reinforce the early wake-up, keeping the cycle going.

Instead:

✔️ Try lengthening the first awake window as much as possible.

✔️ Avoid offering extra sleep during the monring nap to make up for the early wake.

Pro Tip - getting outside or water activities are great ways at helping to keep your little one distracted. Try using these types of activites at then end of the awake window, when they are getting grizzly.

#3: Increase Sleep Pressure

If your baby is waking early, it could be a sign they’re ready for less total sleep. While sleep does promote sleep, too much daytime sleep can reduce the drive for night sleep.

Ask yourself:

✔️ Is your baby resisting naps or bedtime?

✔️ Are they taking long to fall asleep?

✔️ Are they waking up happy and alert despite the early wake-up?

If so, it might be time to slightly adjust daytime sleep to build more sleep pressure for nighttime rest.

#4: Don't Reinforce the Wake

When your baby wakes early, it’s easy to respond right away in the hope that they go back to sleep. However, interacting with them can often lead them to thinking that early wake-ups are part of their routine.

Instead:

✔️ Keep the room dark and quiet.

✔️ Try to keep them in their bed until as close to wake-up time as possible.

✔️ Respond with reassurance but avoid making it too stimulating and try to give them as much space as you feel comfortable with.

Final Thoughts

Breaking the early waking cycle takes time, but small adjustments can make a big difference! If you need more support, check out our Routine Guides for all of your routine and sleep needs information. You can also dive deeper into solving early mornings with our Early Waking Guide - designed to help you kiss goodbye to those early starts!!

Early wakes are tough, so make sure to take care of yourself!