How to Make Waking Up Early Easier (Even with a Newborn)

When our third baby arrived, I suddenly faced a new challenge: how to make waking up early easier —and how to make it feel possible again during those sleepless weeks. With two little ones already up at night, some days started after just a few hours of sleep.

But still, even 30 quiet minutes in the morning can make a remarkable difference for moms, especially during those exhausting newborn months.

In this post, I’m sharing what I’ve discovered over the past 5 years and 3 babies — realistic ways to build gentle morning habits that truly work — no matter which stage of motherhood you’re in.

How to Wake Up Early with a Newborn (and Still Function)

After welcoming our third baby at home, I quickly remembered what true exhaustion feels like. Between sleepless nights, constant feedings, and two energetic kids running around, it often feels impossible to do more than just get through the day.

So why even try waking up early during this season?

Because it’s worth it — more than you’d think. Some nights, I barely manage four or five hours of sleep and can’t open my eyes until the older kids wake me. But on other days, I’ve found a way to wake up early with a newborn — and make it work — even in the chaos.

Here’s the short version of how to make waking up early easier with a newborn at home: it all comes down to two simple things.

First, redefine what “early” means. During the newborn stage, it might just be 30 quiet minutes before the baby stirs — and that’s enough. What you do with that time will change daily, but the consistency matters more than perfection.

Second, every successful morning starts the night before. Building the habit of waking up early as a mom depends on your evening routine. You can find practical ideas for that in a related post about building a realistic evening routine that helps moms recharge.

Here’s a quick rundown of the 7 evening habits that helped me — and can help you, too — master how to make waking up early easier and even start to enjoy it:

1. Finish dinner at least one to two hours before bedtime to give your body time to unwind.
2. Cut screen time and reduce blue light exposure one to three hours before sleep.
3. Dim the lights about one hour before bed. Switch to a dim night lamp and enjoy a calm bedtime story with your kids — we do this every evening.
4. Read something for yourself before sleep, even if it’s only five to ten minutes — it helps your mind slow down.
5. Gradually move your alarm earlier — start with 5-15 minutes earlier each week. (I use an alarm clock that doubles as a visual timer for my kids, and we all love it.)
6. Place your alarm across the room. It forces you to stand up. (You can learn more about why this works in the book The 5 Second Rule.)
7. Stick to a consistent wake-up time, even on weekends, to support your natural circadian rhythm. (I share more about the circadian rhythm in a related post — but with a newborn it’s +/- 60 minutes.)

How to Make Waking Up Early Easier — Practical Steps for Moms

So, if you’re wondering how to make waking up early easier with a newborn at home, here’s what’s worked best for me:

1. My morning truly begins the evening before. A bit of evening prep as mentioned above makes everything smoother.
2. With a newborn, I wake up about 30 minutes before my older kids — and once the baby hits 3–4 months, I stretch it to a full hour, and use that short window wisely:
   • I gently wake my baby for a quick breastfeed (if it’s been four to five hours since the last feeding)
   • I take the remaining time for myself — no noise, no demands, just peace.
3. I write a simple morning checklist. (When you’re sleep-deprived, it’s easy to forget even the basics.)

Ultimately, learning how to make waking up early easier depends on finding your own rule of thumb. Mine looks like this:

If I’ve had around six hours of (often interrupted) sleep, I’d rather get up and enjoy a few calm moments to myself than stay in bed for another 30 minutes.

Sleep Calculator: Find the Best Wake-Up Time for You

If you’re caring for a newborn, interrupted sleep is part of the package — so it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. I had to say goodbye to my old 4 a.m. wake-up routine I once loved. These days, I’m thrilled if I manage to get up before 6 AM.

Still, consistency matters. Protecting your circadian rhythm is key to better energy and mood.

Aim for seven to eight hours of total rest — research shows that anything less raises stress levels and long-term health risks. Six hours should be the rare exception, not the rule.

As a simple guide, plan your earliest wake-up time to be seven to eight hours after bedtime — or ideally eight to nine hours if a newborn shares your nights. These days, my baby wakes me just once or twice to nurse, so I set my alarm roughly eight hours after going to bed.

You can use this simple Sleep Calculator to figure out your ideal sleep window and natural wake-up rhythm.

As a pregnant mom of little ones, I rarely sleep perfectly either. Seven or eight uninterrupted hours still feel like a luxury. That’s why I plan generously — setting my alarm eight to nine hours after bedtime and keeping a bit of flexibility within 30 minutes.

But Is Waking Up Early Really the Best Choice for Every Mom?

Here’s my honest take — it depends entirely on the season of motherhood you’re in. Each stage brings its own rhythm.

Waking up early as a mom feels amazing when you still manage around seven hours of sleep consistently — it’s like living in a world of honey and sugar. But if that’s not the case, prioritize sleep first.

Early rising is a wonderful tool, not a rule.

FAQs

The American Academy of Pediatrics provides clear baby sleep safety guidelines that help parents set up a safe, comfortable sleep space — whether they choose co-sleeping or a separate baby cot.

What about you — what’s the hardest part of waking up early for you right now? Share your thoughts in the comments — I’d really love to hear from you.

If you’re walking away today with even one idea to figure out how to make waking up early easier, keep the momentum going. Subscribe to our newsletter in the green footer below and become part of a community that’s all about growing — one small habit at a time.

Title image source: Beatriz Pérez on Unsplash