No help here, I'm just jealous of all you people whose kids actually sleep! My 2 y/o regularly stays awake till 9:30 or even 10 and then bounces out of bed at 7-7:30 refreshed and ready to go. She's always seemed to have a low sleep need.

Are you sure your DD is tired or is it possible she is just needing less sleep as she gets older? Is she cranky and ragged-looking or happy and playful?

Happy and playful in the morning, but will lie on the floor at the drop of a hat, *especially* when it's time to leave for school. Her favorite game is to pretend her dolls (and trains and bath toys) are sleeping.

Aaaawww poor baby. Well, we've talked. I have the same problem with younger child. Except she doesn't wake up early, she just stays up forever, whether I lay down with her (bad idea) or leave her alone. She wakes up in the middle of the night as well for me to come back in bed with her (hence bad idea to lay down in the first place). Never does that with dad when I'm gone. Only thing that works is bribery (promise of pancakes in morning, or watching a DVD, or whatever, if she stays in bed).

Meanwhile the 6yo (always a great sleeper) still naps 2+ hours on weekends (no naps in 1st grade!), sleeps 10+ hours at night, never wakes up at night. Then again he probably needs a T&A which I'm avoiding. Interesting though - he'll wake up earlier on weekends than weekdays. Trying to avoid school? Nice try buddy...

Get a real alarm clock. Make a big deal if how she's a big girl and she needs to wake up like the grown-ups. Set it for a few minutes before the time she usually wakes up. Keep it for a few days so she is trained to wake up with the alarm (unfortunately that might mean you actually have to wake up rather than coaxing her back to sleep). Then gradually move it (10-15 minutes later every day) until it's an acceptable time. I don't know, it might work. I swear that's how I got my babies to sleep through the night (fool them into thinking I would wake them up when it was time to eat). Or it wa just coincidence. Who knows?

BE, you were born to be a pediatrician. Who else could think up that stuff??

BTW, DD is getting up closer to 5:30/6...sooo much better. She gets crankier as the week wears on since naptime is too short at school. She did half-day kindergarten today and took a 2hour nap at home.

Thanks to you all for the suggestions! Amma, I think you were right after all...it just...happens...and then it goes away . Although I'm still holding out for the old 6:30 wake-up.

Just got a catalog with these alarm clocks in the mail:

alarm clock #1

alarm clock #2

alarm clock #3

I don't recommend this long term... But have you asked your pediatrician about your child taking a very small dose of melatonin before bed?

How are things going asunshine? Any improvements?

Oh yes, I've been meaning to update! The 5am issue went away just as suddenly as it came. I have absolutely no explanation. We had about a month of "normal" sleep at our house, but recently the toddler has been *refusing* to fall asleep. Even if we rock her til she is stone cold out--she freaks the second she senses the crib. It never ends! (At least the weather is warmer now, so no clanking radiators to wake them up at night. Hallelujah!)

I am about to try one of those color changing alarm clocks. My problem is that we still sleep in the same room, and as soon as he wakes up, he talks non-stop. We have been able to convince him to stay in bed a few times, but not successfully to stay quite. Plan is to get the alarm clock, let him pick out a few books and toys and ask him to play quietly until clock turns green? Hope it works. Is it in a 2 year old's capability to understand and remember such complicated set of instructions? Are 2 year olds capable of playing quietly by request? He is driving us crazy every morning...