I dropped the girls off at nursery yesterday and overheard one of the other mums discussing her little boys' sleep with his keyworker: "He woke at 5.40 this morning. He's been waking early every day this week. I'm not used to it. I don't know what to do with him!"

5.40am? Bloody hell. I'd be whooping and cheering if G woke at 5.40am. 4.45am is her current preferred waking time, although she usually settles herself back to sleep within a few minutes and is then awake on and off until 7am. If G sleeps through until 5am we consider it to be a good night. 6am is a miracle. 7am and I start wondering whether she is still alive or not.