Question about shifting bedtime to earlier

[graciegal]

My 23 month old DD used to go to bed right away at 8pm and sleep until 7/8am, through the night. If you've read my toddler bed thread you know that is SO not the case at all any more. So she is averaging 8-9 hours of sleep a night now, interrupted, and getting up at 5:30/6am.

My question is this: If we put her to bed earlier, say sleeping by 7pm, does that usually mean that the child just wakes up an hour earlier? Or do they still usually sleep till their usual wake up time? I'm just trying to get the poor dear more sleep but I can't wake up at 4:30 am with her for the day. I have -severe- sleep issues myself.

Thanks for your insight!

[newmamalizzy]

I would give it a try.  If I remember correctly, it's taking your daughter a lot longer to fall asleep than usual lately?  So I think starting lights out by 6:30 or 7 may not be a bad idea.  It may be that she's getting overtired as she struggles to get used to her new bed.  My DD seems to have a pre-programmed wake-up time of 6:15 or so.  Since 4 or 5 months old, she has tended to wake up at that time, no matter what her sleep schedule is otherwise.  I can put her to bed early, late...doesn't seem to matter.  I would guess that even with a much earlier bedtime, she won't wake before 5:30/6 - but don't quote me on that :) 

[~Adorkable~]

i know a gentle sleep coach that is always saying over and over that for most kids a slowly moved earlier bed time rarely moves the wake time and sometime moves it to later in the morning!  i would give it a go

[Erin77]

I agree- the wake up time seems to usually remain consistent, and the bed time is what you can vary. My 23 month old goes to bed at 6 pm (I know!) but he sleeps til 7 am, so I'm not gonna question it.