As rewarding as it is, it’s no secret that parenting can be a challenging task – with the constant need for sleep and the limited time available.
However, health visitor Ruth Watts may have a solution to help you out. She recently shared a tip on her TikTok channel about how to get your child to sleep in past 6am.
This simple trick could potentially extend your own sleep time if executed correctly, and could significantly improve your child’s sleep pattern. To start, she emphasised the importance of creating the “perfect” sleeping environment, which should be pitch black as light can disrupt their sleep, especially in the morning.
The room temperature also plays a crucial role – it shouldn’t be too cold or too hot as this could cause them to wake up early. During winter, she suggests putting socks on their feet if they’re cold.
Ruth advised: “If you have a toddler, have a Gro Clock. If they don’t go back to sleep, you teach them to stay in their room until that Gro Clock wakes up.
“Start off realistic. If your child is waking up at 5am, having it set at 5am for a couple of days, then 5.15am, then 5.30am and recognising and realising, this child is probably an early riser and they may not be able to go past 6am and that’s fine.
“Re-setting your expectations there. Anything after 6am is not early rising. Is your child having too much daytime sleep? Some babies only need nine to 10 hours of night time sleep, and we’re putting them to bed at 6pm, expecting them then to sleep until 7am, and actually those babies only need nine or 10 hours.”
If you’re doing this, Ruth said this likely explains why they’re waking up so early, as they’re “fully rested” and ready for the day. She suggested gradually increasing their bedtime over a period to remedy this issue.
Ruth also offers further tips in her useful guide, which readers can find via links on her page. Since being posted, the video has received numerous views, prompting viewers to share their experiences and solutions.
One viewer remarked: “My 8.5 is waking between 5-5.45am instead of 7am. If I put him back to bed, he just runs around the room screaming and banging.” Another shared concerns about a toddler who has recently been sleeping in until 9am and wondered if they should be worried.
How to help babies sleep
When aiming for better baby sleep, experts often recommend maintaining a regular bedtime routine, swaddling and ensuring a peaceful sleep environment.
Make sure the room is at a comfortable temperature and keep it dark as well. Occasionally, introducing some white noise can help to create a consistent, calming sound.