One Year Old Waking up Screaming

It's always hard to tell what wakes them up; sometimes just repositioning and covering them and a pacifier will put them back to sleep instantly. If she really seems to be in pain, we've found that ibuprofen is a lot more effective than Tylenol for teething and body aches. Get infant-strength Motrin, Advil, etc.

She may be having night terrors. Does she stop when you come in or does it keep going on? My daughter started this before she turned 1 and still does it (she's 4 1/2 now). It was really frustrating the first few times before I knew what was going on. She seemed like she was awake but was not. She would be screaming to be up, when I picked her up, she wanted down it would go on and on.

I was told that it's best to not wake them from this episode but in my experience, if I don't wake her up, it continues through out the night. If you think this is it, call your dr. You can get info on line too.

I find that it happens when she is over tired, over stimulated during the day, or both. My niece also gets them (8 yrs old). she will tend to get them when she has had a rough bedtime routine.

Good luck

How old is she? Does she seem awake when she starts screaming, or like she is in a daze and not really conscious where she responds to you or is aware of your presence?

hi my 1yr old just went through this too..it is teething..those darn 1 yr molars are probably trying to come in..motrin works better than tylenol and give her some teething tabs! oragel is a releif too

Have you considered night terrors? My children had them. They look disturbing but they don't remember them. All you can do is try to soothe them ( I don't think they even know we're dong that! )put them back to bed when it is over.

I agree with some others. It sounds like night terrors. If she seems as if she is asleep and unaware of where she is at, while she is screaming, then I would put my bets on night terrors. If you just hold her and talk to her while she is screaming and then finally she calms down, more than like it is night terrors. My oldest would be so bad that I couldn't pick her up, so I would rub her back/leg and talk to her until it stopped. If during the day she shows no signs of being sick or hurting in some way, then my guess would be even stronger towards the night terrors. Night terrors can be very scary for you, but chances are your daughter will not remember them. If she starts to show any signs during the day then a trip to the ped is a good idea, if this only happens at night, after she falls asleep, I would save yourself a trip, she is having a bad dream. This phase goes pretty quickly, although when you are awaken in the middle of the night a few times it seems like forever. :)

My daughter did this as well. Her doctor called them night terrors. She was still sleep when she did it. My moving her around and talking to her awoke her. Then she would go back to sleep. Ask the Dr if this may be the same thing. You can also check symptoms on Web MD.

i hope you have checked your tylenol as a ton of it has been recalled. I would caution you to routinely administering medication to your child. You will know when she is teething i wouldnt just assume...anyways it sounds like she may be having night terrors? a friend of mines kid has then if she eats too close to bed time

It could be something called "night terrors" and there's really not much you can do about it. It's kind of like the sleep disorder that causes sleep-walking. If that's what it is, then she's not really awake when this happens. Try waking her up all of the way next time, then soothe her back to sleep. Maybe it'll help.

My baby turned 3 2 days ago and he did this nightly for most of his life. He is a happy boy, well fed and active. I came to the conclusion it was leg cramps. It would happen more often sometimes and then he would go weeks sleeping straight through. On bad nights I would give him motrin and usually get good results from that. Also massage his legs and hold him tight, gently telling him Mommy was there and he was okay This usually helped too. He has been a few months now sleeping all night and I hate to think he may be past this, but this is the longest he has slept through the night in his life. I may be night terrors, bad dreams, startling, or cramps of some kind. I don't think its that unusual. Anyway its is very likely a phase and she may grow out of it, but there is no telling when. Our doc and most books I read said to treat each situation as it comes and ride it out. Good Luck, I hope your little one gets through this sooner than mine!

My daughter (3yrs) will wake up crying/screaming every time she is overtired when I finally get her to bed at night...try pushing your little girls bedtime up a half an hour and make sure she is getting a good nap(s) in during the day, too.

Could it be nightmares or night terrors? Does she cling to you when you go to get her and seem afraid to go back to her crib? Then it could be nightmares. If she doesn't appear to recognize you, thrashes out and continues screaming after you enter the room, it could be night terrors. If you think it could do either, I recommend you do some research about them. Good luck.

At your daughter's age, I would be careful about giving Tylenol when you're not sure why you are giving it..

I have an 19 month old son and he went through similar cries (although he would simply cry for a few minutes then go back to sleep-but it would happen several times). We think it's due to teething. I swear by the teething tablets that melt in their mouths. I also use orajel. Can you also give her popsicles or cold items during the day (maybe put ice in her sippy cup?)

I don't think night terrors start until 3 or so (from what I remember reading).

Good luck!