2 yo grumpy early riser - what are some strategies?

[Magnoliamama]

Our 2 yo has become an early riser (before 6am) since moving from her crib to a traditional bed in her room. She used to sleep until 7:30 or 8 in the morning. It has been about a month since we made the change. The reason this is an issue in our family is because her lack of rest is significantly affecting her happiness during the day. She is also attempting to drop her afternoon nap, which is also fine, except for the overtiredness that happens.

I have tried letting her come in to sleep with me when she gets up (DH is already gone to work). This doesn't really work - she doesn't want to go back to sleep, she gets up to play, and yell, and do normal 2yo stuff. As a side point, this also wakes her 1yo sister....so on top of a tired 2yo, I have a tired 1yo.

I have tried letting her play by herself in her room until 6 or 6:30 - this has worked once or twice. But I'm concerned about supervision - I can be a heavy sleeper.

We have also tried moving her bedtime earlier to compensate for lack of sleep during the day, but that doesn't seem to do anything except frustrate her. She goes to bed at 8 in the evening.

What are the appropriate things to say to her when she gets up so early? Can I ask her to play quietly by herself until a better hour? Can I ask her to go back to bed b/c it is too early to get up? Why is she waking up so early? Could it be her bowels waking her? (She hasn't started using the potty with any kind of pattern.) She likes her bed, doesn't seem afraid or disturbed by it.

She is so cranky and upset by 10am that she is just plain no fun. She also is cranky from 4pm to bedtime. I think it is because she isn't getting enough rest. I've tried incorporating a morning snack and different activities when the crankiness occurs in the morning, but the evening crankiness is really starting to impact our entire family life.

How do you explain the concept of rest and incorporate it with a 2yo? She used to nap automatically - now that she is growing up, it's not automatic. I don't want to make sleep an issue - I just want it to be matter of fact. I don't want to make sleep or her room or her bed seem like a punishment in any way.

So far, we haven't said anything to her, we've just been observing what's been going on and trying to get her to rest more. So I don't think we have anything we have to undo at this point, but I would like to start doing something purposefully with her.

Strategies/help/suggestions, mamas?

Thanks!!

[GoodWillHunter]

For our crabby 3 y o, I have a quiet time during the day, where he can nurse and cuddle... when the baby is asleep. He doesn't take a nap ( the 3 yo) and I wish he would because he is a crab when he wakes up, too! :LOL I guess my advice would be to try to make a quiet time where she has to cuddle with you, nurse, whatever... read stories, things like that!

[Butter]

Quiet time. Every day my kids have quiet time around 1 pm (that's when they need a downtime or the rest of the day they are crabby). They don't have to nap and generally don't. They are allowed to look at book or play quietly in their rooms. Sometimes Mr. Man chooses to nurse for quiet time. Sometimes they requestme to read books. Anything done quiet and settled is fine with me. It sounds like your little girl might benefit from some downtime. Even 15 minutes can do wonders. At her age I don't think you really could explain why she needs more rest and have her actually understand it.

[PumpkinSeeds]

mine is a crabbby early riser too. I couldn't convince him to relax in bed for an extra hour so I gradually moved his bedtime earlier. MUCH earlier. As in 12 hours before anticipated wake up time. Yes, that means bedtime like 5-6 pm. We talked and talked and talked about it.

You seem frustrated because you are getting tired. This looks like a good time to read some books then go to bed.. After a good sleep you will feel fresh and rested in the morning. Gradually he recognizes his own tired feelings.

Now around 5pm he tells me, "Mama, I'm feeling grumpy cuz I'm tired." He falls magically to sleep at 6 pm or so.

There seemed no way to get him to wake later. When he wakes and I hear the crabby monster coming out of his mouth I say,

"are you feeling fresh and rested, or do you need to cuddle with me for a little while" Talk talk talk talk about feelings. He feels validated and it gives him a voice. After I ask him he usually thinks for a minute and says, "I'm feeling fresh and rested" and he goes downstairs with a happy face.

[PumpkinSeeds]

oh mine is 3yo and doesn't nap in the day.

[Magnoliamama]

Wow, thanks for the insight. So....give her a voice, play around with bedtime if needed, and put some quiet time into the day. Will give it a try!! And thanks again, mamas!