[minibus]

OMG. I can totally sympathize. K gets up at 6 am at the latest, including the weekends (which is what KILLS me). This Saturday, she was up at 5:15 am and there was NO way she was going back to sleep (she started screaming bloody murder at 5:15 and continued, despite all my attempts at anything, including distraction, for 1/2 hour).

My advice - which doesn't work that well for me, but who the heck knows, might work for you, if your little one is more verbal than mine... (K is 22 months).

Talk to her about her feelings while she's awake. When it's 5:30 am and she's screaming, go in, tell her it's time to go back to sleep or play quietly in her crib for now. Then go somewhere out of her sight. You won't be able to go back to sleep, but you also won't be reinforcing it.

As for the hitting, even though it doesn't hurt now, you don't want to let it go, because that will be telling her it's ok. I would recommend a short timeout when she hits, no matter how hard. You can say something along the lines of "I'm sorry you're mad at me, but we do not hit."

Isn't it the WORST when you're sleep deprived and having to deal with a defiant child? Ugh! Good luck!!