If your baby rises with the roosters (or long before you're ready for a wakeup call), here are some things to consider:

First, is your baby getting the right amount of sleep? An 11-month-old baby usually takes two naps a day, each an hour to an hour and a half long, and sleeps about 11 or 12 hours at night. Insufficient sleep or too much sleep may upset his or her rhythms.

If your baby seems to be getting enough sleep: Try making his or her bedtime later. It may be that your baby is being put down for the night earlier than is necessary.

If your baby still wakes early, you don't necessarily need to wake up and get him or her out of the crib. Try scattering a few board books or interesting toys at the foot of the crib after your baby has fallen asleep for the night. He or she is apt to find them in the morning and self-entertain for a half hour or longer.

Some babies like to hang out, singing and talking, after they wake up without necessarily needing to be picked up right away. This is a positive development as it shows your baby is learning to play alone. And remember – early rising may just be a phase that will pass, like so many others.

If your baby wakes early because his or her sleep rhythms are off: Make sure the environment in which your baby sleeps is quiet, dark, and comfortable. Try an earlier bedtime to make sure sleep deprivation doesn't further disrupt the cycle. Help your baby develop self-soothing techniques: The excitement of all the new skills he or she has been mastering may make it hard to stay asleep, and your baby may need to learn how to get back to sleep independently.

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