This was not a parenting challenge I expected to have.
My daughter is eight years old and deeply loves to read. She reads a full chapter book almost every day, and it’s been such a joy to see her develop this passion. But recently, I started noticing something new. I get up between 5:15 and 5:30 in the morning, and several mornings in a row, I saw her light already on when I walked past her room. She was awake, quietly reading in bed.
At first, it seemed harmless. She wasn’t getting into trouble. She was just excited to read. But after a while, I realized she was beginning to wake earlier and earlier to read, and it was starting to impact her rest and energy levels during the day. So I decided to create a boundary. In our home, we don’t read in bed between 8:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m.
This wasn’t about punishment or taking something away. It was about understanding how her body works and helping her get the rest she needs.
I’ve seen this same pattern with younger children and screen time. A toddler wakes at 5:00 a.m. and the parent is exhausted, so they turn on a show while they try to rest. This is completely understandable. But over time, it becomes a habit. The child’s body begins to expect to wake at that time. The light and stimulation reinforce the early wake-up, and it happens more consistently.
This is called circadian drift. When a child is regularly exposed to light at the same early hour, their body starts to shift its rhythm. It begins to treat 5:30 a.m. as the start of the day. That exposure to light, whether it’s from a screen or a lamp, acts like a signal telling the brain it’s time to wake up.
In addition to the light exposure, there’s also a behavioral pattern forming. When a child consistently wakes up to do something enjoyable, whether it’s watching a favorite show or reading a beloved book, the brain starts to anticipate it. The early waking becomes both physiological and habitual.
If you’re dealing with this, there are a few helpful things you can try:
- Keep lights off until your desired wake time
- Hold a firm boundary around screens or reading in the early morning hours
- Offer quiet connection if your child wakes early, such as snuggling or lying together in a dim room
- Use natural light intentionally by opening curtains or going outside after your chosen wake time to help reinforce the shift
- For older children who are spending time alone in their room in the morning, an “OK to Wake” clock like this can help them to know when it is time to get out of bed or do their enjoyable activity.
You may need to support your child more during the transition. Children who are sensitive or slow to adapt may need extra time to adjust and feel secure.
It’s important to know that none of this is about you doing anything wrong as a parent. Just like temperament, early waking patterns are shaped by a combination of biology, environment, and habits over time.
This shift with my daughter reminded me that even when something seems positive on the surface, like loving to read, it can still be important to create limits that protect rest and rhythm. Her love of books hasn’t changed, but now we’re helping her body learn when it’s time to rest and when it’s time to start the day.
If you’re navigating early rising, sleep challenges, or supporting a child with a sensitive nervous system, my Infant Sleep Foundations eCourse and Toddler Sleep Foundations eCourse are a great place to start.
If you’d prefer more personalized support, we also offer one-on-one calls and support packages. You can learn more here.
