Ahhh. The elusive sleep Christmas morning.
For many parents, sleep doesn’t come until the teenage years. They long for the morning that they aren’t awoken to pokes from tiny fingers or toes in their back before the sun starts rising over the horizon.
This is especially true on Christmas morning.
The night before, most parents pull all-nighters. Reminiscent of their college days. Putting together bikes, dollhouses, and tiny kitchens. Wrapping each present perfectly and setting it under the tree only to be ripped to shreds in a few short hours.
After all the work is done, and the last drop of coffee is gone from the cup, they sit back and stare at the beautiful sight.
The stillness of the night, lit by the tree, is a sight to be seen.
The Christmas tree shining in all its glory. The presents are all wrapped up in pretty papers and tied with shining bows.

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Then they look at the clock. In horror, reality sets in. In just a few short hours, their tiny ones will be awake.
Scurrying to bed, they get settled, and fall asleep, only to be awakened an hour later with children bouncing on their bed. Eyes wide open, ready to open the much-anticipated presents laid under the tree.
Begging for just a few more minutes, the tinies don’t back down. They will not give up until the parents are headed downstairs.
Thankfully, the coffee pot was set on auto-brew.
While that is the story for many who will wake up on Christmas morning, it doesn’t have to be you! Here are five ways you too can get more sleep on Christmas Morning.

5 Ways Parents Can Sleep Christmas Morning
1. Set your clocks back an hour.
If your children are accustomed to watching the clock to know what time they can get out of their room, set the clock back an hour. It will make a funny story when they are older.
2. The last kid up gets to open the first present.
While it’s possible, they could work together and wake up at the same time, it’s still worth a shot.
3. Blackout curtains.
Do you have (affiliate link) these? You should. I will never forget the time we were on vacation in a timeshare that had the best blackout curtains ever. Seriously, they were the best. I was pregnant with our second child and we had our toddler in the other room. Since she was usually our alarm clock, we didn’t set one. When we heard her stirring, I looked at the clock and it was 10:30 in the morning. It was the best sleep I can remember. LOL
4. Cuddle in bed watching a Christmas movie.
While they watch the movie, you can take a catnap. Don’t have a television in your room? See if you can get the kids to cuddle with you before going to the tree. Sometimes, they will and fall back asleep.
5. Take care of breakfast the night before.
Try a breakfast casserole in the crockpot, or overnight oatmeal. By doing the prep the night before, you can catch a few more Zzzz’s. You can also make this delicious and quick Creme Brulee French Toast that everyone will love.

Epic Tradition to Start to Get More Sleep Christmas Morning
Want more sleep on Christmas morning? Say the last one up gets to open their presents first.
While these won’t work for all families, it’s worth a shot.
The magical morning of Christmas won’t be ruined by making your children wait just a little bit longer.
In fact, it might be more magical if the parents can be awake enough to remember to grab the camera and put creamer in their coffee instead of the pumped bottle of breastmilk in the fridge.
Cam Smith
Sunday 22nd of December 2019
My 2 older sisters and my Dad were the late sleepers. My mother was as excited as I was. We opened our stockings, and and played until breakfast was ready, then opened presents. Mom made sure everyone else got up for breakfast early. With my own child, the big hand had to be on the 12 and the little hand had to be on the 7, before he was allowed to wake us up.
Kelly
Sunday 1st of January 2017
At my house it is not the kids but my husband that is the first person up. He LOVES Christmas and wakes early and gets everyone up. I am lucky if the sun is up. It is really cute though.
Katia Audrey
Tuesday 27th of December 2016
Ha ha I loved this post! Great, great ideas to keep in mind, thanks!
laurie damrose
Monday 26th of December 2016
Those are great tips.
krystel
Sunday 25th of December 2016
These are really great ideas