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Blog » Giving up the Soother

Giving up the Soother

Posted June 15, 2009

He is still getting up really early, sometimes before 6am. We don't ever go in before 6:45am but it wakes us all up. He is not miserable, with the exception of some mornings, but I thought he would be back to sleeping longer. He has never been a 7-7 child, but he has slept longer prior to ditching the soother. He is still having a nap in the afternoon, anywhere in length from 1 - 2.5 hours. I try to wake him around the 2 hour mark so as not to affect his night sleep patterns. Nothing seems to change this 'play time'. The only thing I am concerned about is that is always looks tired. Any suggestions would be welcome? M.G.

It is hard to say for sure that there aren't other things mixing in here, besides the removed soother.  He could be going through a new stage of brain development which requires him to talk and sing every night to practice what he is thinking about.  Rather than thinking of it as 'fooling around' let's think of it as a rich time to think his own thoughts  enjoy his own company.  His body will fall asleep when it needs to.  I'd still recommend him being left in his bed until 7 every morning, no matter what time he wakes up.

To me, it seems more likely that his awake time in the evening is due to his nap.  He is approaching the age when many children will stay awake later if they've had a good nap.  I don't suggest you end the nap, and your timing sounds very good if you get him up by 2 PM.  The main thing is that overall, he is getting enough sleep for his age if we count night and day.  

Is there any way for you not to hear him in the mornings?  Ear plugs?  White noise machine in your room, all doors closed. Your whole family needs to learn to ignore him and they will, eventually, if you do not respond.

Congratulations on still having him in a crib!

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