Experiences with gro clock? Trying to stop the 5am wake up calls

[Kay Kay]

In the last month or so my lo's sleep has changed, starting with his nap. For over a year he had a mid day nap that could be anywhere between an hour and 3 hours. Bliss! And he would generally still go down at night at 7.30, self settle no bother.

Started to have trouble with him dropping off at night so we reduced his nap to under an hour, some days he doesn't nap at all. This makes going down easier. I desperately miss my 3 hour break in the middle of the day but I always knew I was lucky and it wouldn't last forever. I would rather have my evening.

Anyway in the last few weeks he's been going down fine at 7.30 but waking up at 5/5.30! His usual wake up time is 6.30 or later if we're lucky. He is waking up upset, just wanting mummy cuddles and not wanting to go back in his cot. We have rule if it's sfter 6am he can come in our bed but before that we try our best to get him back to sleep in his own bed.

This morning it was 4.50 and it took me til half 5 to get him back. I literally had to hold him still until he dropped off. Exhausting and frustrating!! He wasn't hot/cold, hungry, scared, sore. He just wanted me and was clinging for dear life.

In desperation my hubby picked up the gro clock when we were in john Lewis today and said lets just get it. So we explained tonight and he seemed to understand. We've set it for 7am.

Any positive experiences? How long did it take to work? Any other advice on these early wake ups? It's getting us down and causing bickering with me and my hubby.

I should mention he's still in his cot xx

 

[Nutsyputs]

We have one. It has helped accept our son has figured how to change it so if he wakes early now and you ask him if the Suns up he goes bag changes it!

 

[MrsS143]

Could he be having bad dreams maybe?

 

[flisstebbs]

Love our gro clock. We gradually moved time from 6 to 7 am. Now if jess wakes before 6 which is rare she will lie quietly rather than up and down until sun comes up. It really is like magical witchcraft device!! It took us several months of reinforcing message though with saying its nighttime until sun appears. We also went with a later bedtime which helped 8-8.30

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[nicky1987]

How did it go Hun? Did it work? X

 

[Baby2sky]

We had a similar issue at around the same age. I didnt try a gro clock, but a later bedtime helped xxx hope it went well!

 

[Kay Kay]

Thanks girls. Well it was a strange night cos he went down ok but woke at half two!! Crying and wanting cuddles. I just held him for a bit and he went back to sleep so only about ten minutes all in all. I didn't say anything about the gro clock at that time as I try to avoiding saying anything in the night.

Strangely though that was him til 6.55! So I went in and explained it wasn't time to get up yet and he seemed to get it but I guess it'll take some perseverance. Fliss I'm encouraged that it worked for Jess, gives me hope!

The bad dreams thing, yes I think there's that going on too, he developed a sudden fear of the dark a couple of months ago but hasnt really mentioned it since.

I'll keep going with it anyway xx

 

[Birdie]

My son is an early riser - primarily because he doesn't sleep much more than 10 hours a night. He is 26 months now - how old is yours?

When bedtime started to become a battle and his wake up started getting earlier & earlier, we did exactly the same as you, dropping his nap length and that helped a bit - but every few days he gets really overtired from the short nap & starts doing less than 10 hour nights again (anything between 9-10 hours is an overtired sleep for him - he will usually wake in the night too, which isn't normal) So I usually shorten his day the next day, with a nice early bedtime and he suddenly sleeps longer & it catches him up.

We have a gro-clock, but that was never going to work with my son... when he's awake, he's awake - even if he's only had 8.5hrs sleep... that's it... he doesn't give 2 hoots what the clock says! I won't just leave him upset in his room, so i end up in with him & after a while we get up... has proved a rather expensive bedroom decoration

 

[babyslog]

Ive always wondered what age this gro clock may work. Noah, since he was 8ms old has been an early riser!
Now almost 2.5 it can be anything between 5am and 6.30am, but very rarely any later!!

Ill have look and see if i can get a 2nd hand one as i didnt realise how successful they are!