Question:
Have you come across this trick before? I read somewhere that taking your baby out in the light for half an hour before bed (about 5pm) can help with early wakings. DD isn't that bad- normally 6.30 to 7.30. But we happened to take her to the play park and beach at 5pm on Sat and on Sunday she slept till 8.15am. So we tried it again last night and she slept till 8.20am this morning. I'd be happy with 7.30 but 8am has felt like a treat!
Replies:
Hmm this is pretty interesting! We happened to go to the park and beach last night before dinner and my little 6.30am riser is still asleep at 7.20 this morning.
We had one 6.15 out of the last four days- rest have been 7.40 and two after 8am's - even though last night we didn't go out in the evening. I'm definitely going to keep trying this. Bonus is my DD loves the late night outings!
well I just have to give this a go! I will try tonight and update in the am. ds usually wakes about 6:30 but will sometimes sleep later so maybe thats the difference. Anyway will report back soon!
oh i am so going to try this, i am sick of being up at 5am!
I'm definatly giving this a go - does it have to be an outing or will something like a walk in the pram do it???
We've only tried a walk on the beach. We haven't done it every day but DD is sleeping till 7.30 or 6am these days. She's had a cold so I'm hoping the odd 6am's are the result of that.
so update - we've done it for 3 days and wake ups have been 7:45, 7:45, 7:30 and 7:20 - loved the late ones so hope it continues!
Just reading this now, and it just so happens that we took our 8mth old (who has recently started waking 1hr earlier than normal) out for a walk at about 5.30pm tonight...its summer here in the UK so it was light....interesting to see how she goes tomorrow morning
My one only slept till 6.20am this morning! But that is an improvement on 5.30am the night before so I am going to keep trying!!!
not much luck for us, still a very unsettled wake up at 6am! we'll keep up the walks though, they're a nice relaxer before bedtime
I'm not sure if it is the exercise or the light but I think it is working for us most days. Although we had a 6.30 this morning. Argh.
We were out last night with my daughters daycare concert and were outside till about 5.30pm, I have been wanting to try this as we can have early wakings from 5am with our 3 year old and 10month old :(
After the outing last night our 10month old slept to 7.30am this is AMAZING never had that and our daughter didn't get up till my husband had to at 6.30am! Going to keep trying this will be easier with daylight savings I'm guessing.
Its going brilliantly for us! we continue to have 7:30-8am wake ups. In saying this ds has just started walking properly so may just be really tired??? who knows but Im keeping it up!!!
So how close to bedtime for this? Our LO is 6 months old...any links to the artical?
we are trying at about 5pm for about 10-15mins. Yesterday we didnt get out and he woke at 7:10??? i have googled it and cant find any info about light therapy for kids only adults so no real theory I just read it on here????
We had another 7.30 wake up after 20 min at the park at 4.30. YAY ! But it's just so cold to do it consistently!!! Well done Vanessa.
I read about it on a parenting forum. Can't find the thread again though. We've struggling to do it with the rain and have gone back to 6.30am.
How has everyone gone with their 'light therapy' this week.... I have been talking about this and I think people are starting to think I am crackers lol...
I really notice if we get out hes better and today is a lovely day so hoping for a sleep in tomorrow!!!
I told a friend about this, she has a 22 month old who was consistently waking anywhere between 5/5.30am. She has also now started a new job, where she finishes at 5 - so after picking her daughter up from her daycare and letting her have a little play outside, she has been able to stick to a 7pm bedtime and now has 6.30-7am wake ups!!! She is stoked.
That's great news. It's working for us- not every day but we now have mostly 7.30am's with the odd 6.30 rather than the other way round.
Oh my gosh, this sounds like a great idea. My boy wakes at 5.30am every morning and we have tried everything-well i thought we had. This is diffinitely worth a shot-starting today:) Thanks