Q&A: How to Get a 5yr Old to Wake Later

Q: “How do you suggest I make sure my five-year-old sleeps until 7am? She is waking at 6am, and I’m finding that’s not enough for her now that she is in prep. Her bedtime is between 7pm and 7.30pm. Is she at an age where I can tell her to stay in her room until the clock hits 7am?”

A: Parents often find that once their preschooler starts prep, the amount of sleep they are getting is certainly not enough. We now have a system where children at the age of 5 years attend school 5 days a week, from 9am to 3pm, which is certainly exhausting for them. There are two options for extending her sleep. The first is to make her bedtime earlier. I know it’s early, but aim for 6.30-7.00pm so that she is asleep by 7pm. It means that you need to bring your whole afternoon routine forward half an hour. This may not fit adult schedules, but it’s what little kids need.

If this is impossible or too difficult, then the second option is to tell her that 7am is wake-up time. This means that any waking up before that involves staying in her bed and waiting until the clock gets to 7am. 7am is a very reasonable time. You can use a clock in her room that she can learn to read, or I have found that lots of parents have benefited from the Momo Sleep Trainer clock, which is designed specifically for early risers.

You simply set the wake-up time you desire, and when your child goes to bed at night, Momo (who’s a monkey) simply closes his eyes (by a button). In the morning, his eyes will open at the set wake-up time. Simply, if his eyes aren’t open, it’s still sleep time. If they are open, it’s getting up time. It’s a very simple concept but very effective for ages 3 years and up. It really does work. There is also the day/night clock of a similar concept; however, it teaches kids about daylight and darkness, and in my experience, the clock doesn’t match what is actually happening outside the window, and children become confused and negotiate with it!

Your daughter can certainly learn and quickly adapt to sleeping until 7am using either of these methods, so long as you are consistent with it for a week or two.

Nicole Pierotti

Originally Published: April 29, 2013 Last Edited: May 10, 2023