Tuesday 14 February 2012

The 'Go Back To Bleeping Sleep' Diaries

Well you might have realised that we're having big problems with K and his crazy early morning wake-ups.  So I've done some research and found out some good and some bad news.

The good news is that you can get these cool toddler wake-up clocks that change colour/image when it's time for the little tormentor one to get out of bed.  The idea is that you set the wake-up time to just after they normally wake up - even if that is 4.30 in the morning, then you go in and rave about how wonderful they are for waiting until the clock told them it was time to get up.  After a few days you change the wake-up time to 15 minutes later with the idea that they will slowly adjust to a later wake-up time and you will finally get some sleep.

The bad news is that most people with extreme early morning risers seem to just have to wait it out.  Apparently nothing works for the majority of people.  Keep in mind that I'm only basing this on what I've read online, and I'm guessing that all those people with children who do sleep well probably don't feel the need to let the rest of us know about it.  I'm kind of glad about this since we know a few people who have "good sleepers", and when they tell us how their wonderful child sleeps in until 7:30, sometimes 8:30 every morning, I feel like ripping off their well-rested, 8-hours-of-sleep-a-night heads and stuffing them down their necks.  Do I sound bitter?

Anyway, I'm not deterred by the disappointing news that I'm probably just going to have to wait this 'phase' out (though this 'phase' has lasted K's entire life so far) - instead I did what any desperate woman would do... I went shopping.

I did a bit of research into available clocks in St. John's, and found only 1 (not surprisingly).  I brought this today and then spent some time with K pretending to go to sleep and then waking up when the sun came out on the clock face.  We then read the book that came with the clock before he went to sleep (which thankfully he has no problems with... touch wood), and now the wait begins.

Soooooo, my idea now is that I'm going to attempt to document how this clock thing goes.  If it works then I'll let you know, so that if some other poor sleepless bugger stumbles upon this blog, then perhaps there'll be some advice that will actually help you to sort out your little darling's sleeping habits.  If it doesn't work, then it's a great opportunity for me to vent.  Win-win.

So here goes nothing.

The clock is set for 5am.

tick... tick... tick...

4 comments:

  1. It worked for us! It worked for us! I hope hope hope it works for you!

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    1. I have my fingers, legs, arms, toes and hair all crossed in the hope that it does work.

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  2. Sorry, I'm not used to the commenting feature! I was just saying that we have a clock like that for Eliza and it works really BLESSEDLY well, although she was a bit older than Kalani when we tried it (more like 2 1/2 probably), so if it doesn't work now, it still might do the trick in a few months! I don't think James would get it yet - he's not verbal enough. And he was also up at the crack of dawn this morning. P.S. I'd be more than happy to babysit Kalani so you can have a nap - I'm home MWF and I'm sure he would be great company for my two.

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    1. I really really hope this works - otherwise I'm going to have to tie him to his bed to stop him from getting up in the morning!

      I would love for you to babysit K, but I'm at work full-time, so I don't get much of a chance to nap during the day which is a shame! :(

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