Older babies and toddlers are often early wakers, and, unfortunately for parents who are slow starters, the children are usually bright-eyed, full of conversation, and raring to go. Or worse, some wake up cross and irritable.
Parents who like to sleep a bit later than their children often take turns getting up early, so at least one of them can rest. Others have developed strategies to hold off early risers.
• First, try that old stand by “shh, go back to sleep” and leave the room. Sometimes it works.
• Draw the curtains or install opaque shades, so that the morning sunlight won’t wake your child.
• Keep some light noise running, such as a humidifier in your child’s room, if an adult’s earlier work schedule creates wakeful noises.
• For slightly older babies, hang a little basket on the outside of the crib, and, after he or she is asleep at night, fill it with an assortment of toys, dolls, or books for early morning play.
• Set a clock radio to go off when your child is awake to provide entertainment.
• And finally, you might want to allow your child into your bed, if he or she can then fall back to sleep, and everyone can get that extra hour or two of shut eye.
Vicki Lansky’s practical, common sense approach to parenting is familiar to millions throughout the world. Vicki’s first book, Feed Me, I’m Yours, published in 1974, and still one of the most popular baby/toddler food cookbooks in the country, was followed by The Taming of the C.A.N.D.Y. Monster, a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her other titles include: Toilet Training, Birthday Parties Best Party Tips & Ideas For Ages 1-8, Dear Babysitter Handbook, Welcoming Your Second Baby, Getting Your Child to Sleep … and Back to Sleep, Trouble-free Travel with Children, Baby Proofing Basics and Games Babies Play From Birth to Twelve Months, Koko Bear’s New Potty, A New Baby at Koko Bear’s House, Koko Bear and the New Babysitter, and Koko Bear’s Big Earache. Vicki Lansky’s Divorce Book for Parents: Helping Children Cope with Divorce and Its Aftermath
