I've always struggled with morning time most so I'm wondering what the other stay at home/maternity leave moms do.

My son has always woken up a few times in the morning hours (5 - 7am) and I never know when I should be getting him up vs. trying to get him back to sleep. If he wakes up crying I typically try and soothe him back to sleep until he finally wakes up in a better mood. Sometimes it's one more snooze, sometimes it's 3. Sometimes he'll seem rested and content at 6:00 and other times it won't be until 8:00. (Bedtime is consistent within a 30 minute window).

Yesterday he woke up at 6:30 and was just rolling around talking to himself so we got up for the day. Today he woke up at 6:30 crying and rubbing his eyes so I fed him, and he then went back to sleep and is still sleeping (its now 8am).

Should I be going off his cues like that even though wakeup time is inconsistent? Or is it better to pick a wakeup time and say the first time he wakes up after ___ I'll get him up for the day, even if he seems cranky, to promote more of a schedule? Or maybe I should be waking him up at the exact same time every day?

I'm confused! And the time change didn't help lol Any advice appreciated 😩❤️