Early waking toddler

[t2009]

Not sure if I should post this here or in Family Bed... Sorry if this is the wrong forum.

DS is a super-early riser lately. He's 22 months old, very verbal & usually always understands what I or DH are telling him. However, in the morning, he's just up & cannot be reasoned with.

He's usually up by 5. I realize this may be cyclical, but if anyone has any ideas, I'd love to hear them!

I feel like we've tried everything... bed-sharing, crib... doesn't make a difference. Talking/reasoning or silent treatment... doesn't matter. Nursing, no nursing... nope. 

I would say I just have to live with it, but I don't think he's getting enough nighttime sleep. We try to put him down by 7:30, but even when we do, he just chatters to himself & his lovie until at least 8:00, sometimes much later. So we try putting him down later. Nope. So that puts him at an average of 9 hours of nighttime sleep (not counting any wake-ups, of which there are usually 1 or 2). 

He's a great napper (often 3 hours), which makes up for some of the nighttime sleep, but also makes putting him down for night-night earlier than 8 quite difficult (if he wakes at 4 he's not likely to want to sleep before 8 or 8:30).

Ideas from anyone who has gone through something similar? The early wake up is really wearing me down (especially since he's usually up once around 3 & I have difficulty falling back asleep...).

Thanks!

[belltree]

First of all, 12 hrs total sleep is perfectly fine for some kids. My 15month old sleeps less per day, he does not nap anylonger and sleeps about 11-11.5hrs at night (including several feedings). If you like him to sleep longer at night, you might want to consider shorten his daytime nap; similar if 5am is too earlier, you might have to let him go to bed later.

That said, if your child is tired during the day and falls asleep easily in the car for instance he might really be not getting all the sleep he needs.

I feel you for not being able to go back to sleep after waking up at 3am. I haven't found a good solution here yet, except that dh sometimes helps me by letting me sleep in and taking over in the morning.