Every morning my 2 year old wakes up crying and screaming around 5.30am. I’ve always rushed in with a little milk to try and satisfy possible hunger and hopefully settle him back. This did work for a short period, but now he still drinks the milk but won’t go back to sleep, doesn’t want to come in for a cuddle, and demands to watch ‘Cbeebies’. If we say ‘no it’s too early’, he gets hysterical, and it can wake his baby brother up He goes to bed approx 7.30, so 5.30am is far to early to get up isn’t it? Do I just get up with him and go downstairs to keep the house quiet, or suffer upstairs with a grizzling uncontrollable toddler?
As he is no longer settling back to sleep when offered a drink of milk, it is pointless continuing to offer it to him. Instead I would advise that you use a method called the “magic light trick” which is perfect for a child your son’s age. Find a very dim light and a timer switch, I recommend a digital timer as the other ones click away all night. Then set the light to go on 15 minutes before he would usually wake up, so in your case, I am sorry to say it will be 5.15.
Then explain the rules to your son. Say to him he is not allowed out of bed or to watch TV unless the magic light comes on. This is why it is so important for the light to come on to begin with before he wakes up, so he is instantly rewarded, i.e. he can get up and watch his program.
It is also important that he views the light as his friend and not a threat to keep him in bed, so again that is why in the early days the light comes on before he wakes up.
You will have to be very firm with him, if he wakes up and starts shouting to get out of bed before the light comes on then there is very definitely no TV (he can have it on later on in the morning, but not as soon as he wakes up, maybe a good guideline here would be after everyone has had breakfast).
Gradually every three or four nights move the timer forward by five minutes until you get to a sensible toddler waking-up time, around 6.30-7am; any longer is a bonus so try not to push it. The light will only work if you move slowly and do not rush the process and you must be consistent and persistent, otherwise he will just ignore the light. As you son’s nighttime sleep improves it is important to gradually reduce the length of time he sleeps at lunchtime from two hours to one hour.
Obviously, there may be times when the baby will be woken, and you will need the help of your husband to settle him back to sleep. But if you are prepared to ride the storm with your elder son, peaceful nights will return and therefore the worry of waking the baby up will pass.