Desired wake time (DWT) is the time a family would like their child to wake and start the day, used as a reference point in sleep coaching.
Desired wake time (DWT) is the time a family would ideally like their child to wake and begin the day. It is used in sleep coaching as an anchor for the whole 24-hour rhythm — the point from which nap timings, awake periods and bedtime are worked backwards.
Why is it hard to change?
Many babies and young children are naturally early risers, and morning wake time is closely tied to a child's developing body clock and to the rise in cortisol that occurs towards the end of the night. For this reason it is often one of the slower elements to shift, and is commonly the last piece of a routine to settle into place.
How is it used in a routine?
Setting a realistic DWT allows the rest of the day to be structured consistently around it. An over-ambitious wake time — much later than a child's body clock currently allows — can be counter-productive, so the DWT is usually treated as a target to move towards gradually rather than to impose at once.
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