Sleeping FAQ: 12-18 Months – Early Morning Waking

Since we returned from a time zone 4 hours ahead my 13 mth daughter has been waking early in the morning.

We have just returned from Dubai which is 4 hours ahead of the UK time wise. Before this holiday my 13mth old daughter was sleeping from 7pm to 7 or 8am every morning without waking in the night. Since we have returned (3 days now), she has been struggling to stay awake until 7pm and has been waking at around 4am seeming to be hungry. I have been giving her milk and breakfast and then putting her back to bed again at about 6 for another hour and half or so. Then I have been back on her usual routine where she goes to bed for 2 hours at lunch time from 12.15 to 2.15. I am not sure I am doing the right thing as she doesn’t seem to be waking any later each morning; it has been 4am for 3 days now. Obviously she has jet lag but what shall I do? I am exhausted and need help!

My daughter eats three good meals a day at 5am, 11am and 5pm. She drinks 16ozs of milk; one 8oz bottle at 4am and one 8oz bottle 6pm.

She naps at 6-7.30am and 12.15-2.15pm. She is asleep by 6.40pm.

To help your daughter get back to her regular hours for sleeping you will need to push on her lunchtime nap. At present the cycle of early waking has led to an early lunchtime nap and your daughter probably falling straight into a deep sleep when put down at 6.40pm.

To move things forward continue to give your daughter her milk when she wakes at 4am but treat this as a night time feed and get her back to sleep as quickly as you can. Wake her at 7am/7.30am and give her breakfast. Having her breakfast at this time should help her push on to 11.45am/12midday before she needs lunch. If she seems hungry mid morning give her a drink of water and a piece of fruit by 10.30am.

Once she is being settled straight back to sleep after her milk at 4am and woken or waking at 7am/7.30am your daughter should manage to get to nearer 12.30/1pm before going down for her lunchtime nap. You may need to move things slowly, by 10-15 minutes every few days, so she adjusts to these changes without becoming too upset.

Having a later lunchtime nap, until 2.30/3pm, should help with her tiredness in the evening. Give her tea at 4.45pm if she seems ready for it, and before she gets too tired to eat well. Make sure she is taking a high carbohydrate meal such as jacket potatoes and beans, thick vegetable soup or pasta with a sauce to really fill her up. She may like yoghurt and fruit after this.

Until you have solved the problem with the early morning waking bring her bath time forward so she is ready to be settled by 6.30pm. It can take up to two weeks to reset a baby into waking later in the morning. It is a good idea that she goes into her cot still awake at 6.30pm as this gives her the opportunity to chat for 10-15 minutes before dropping off to sleep which means she is less likely to fall straight into a deep sleep when put down.

Once your daughter has begun to consistently sleep to nearer 7am for at least a week you can very slowly begin to move her bedtime back towards 7pm. Providing she still continues to sleep until morning, make her bedtime 5-10 minutes later every few nights The daytime sleep needs of this age may need to be closely watched. With increased mobility your baby can become over tired easily which can result in early morning waking. Getting the right amount of sleep at the right time of day may need some juggling on your part to find what is best for your baby’s needs.

Take a look at the case of Heather on the site which deals with early morning waking as a result of being over tired.