Waking with Crying

Hi Sam,

When he wakes up, are you asking him why he is crying? I used to ask if they had a bad dream. Or it could be night terrors. You would know this is the case if you were unable to console him and the light didn't really wake him up. He might also have an earache. I would take him to the doctor if it continues.

Peace,
C.

Is he cutting his two-year molars right now??? That would make him wake crying - laying down equates to more inflamation in his mouth. Try and get a look to see -

good luck,
a.

My kids are both almost 3 and they both went through that here and there this past year, sometimes its over tired, sometimes its all the new learning and growing they are experiencing at their age, and this is the year of asserting some independence and power plays so they fight a lot of things including their sleep even though they are tired. I put my kids to nap at 1130am and they get up at 7am. I find they only nap on the days we stay home in the mornings, if we go somewhere and come home for a nap they have a really hard time relaxing and going to sleep like they used to, the more they encounter they more stimulus which makes sleep harder I think at this age, My kids go to bed right now at 8-830 and get up at 645-7am and take naps 3-4 times per week, just be consistent and don't give up on naps, some Moms do and the little guys need that rest even if they fight it. Sleeping is growing just like when they were babies. I am going to keep mine on a nap until 4yrs. at least even if its just a quiet time on an hour a day. Routine and consistency mean everything. Good luck

I have been going through the same thing! Thanks for the request. I liked reading all the responses.

My oldest went through this stage of life it is called Nightterrors.All kids will go through this at some point.My youngest is going trough this now.We found getting a night light in the room works and we also gave each on a flashlight to have on in the bed. Show them how to turn it on and off.

This has been really effective for us.Try getting one that you can charge the battery as to safe money on batteries.

And since we all check on our kiddos usually before we head off to bed,that is when you can turn the light off.Mine usually have no more waking up after I turn it off.

If you do still get up with the kiddo then just console with that mom love turn the flashlight on and leave it on.

If when you ask if they had a bad dream and they say yes,Talk about it and console.My husband and I also found that if he would go in and act crazy like he is looking for the monster or whatever the case.Beating on doors and walss then acting like he is beating the monster up it helps.So tell dad to go act like a clown and make them laugh and smile.

This works better well with our youngest(a girl) and at the time our oldest(a boy).

Good Luck

Honestly, I think all toddlers seem to go through a phase at about age 2 where they have problems sleeping all night and/or going to sleep at night. I think you can try all the tips you'll read about but I think it's just a phase. I will say that the more he is going to sleep on his own at bedtime (no rocking, pacifer, back rubbing, ect) the less he'll cry at night because he knows how to sooth himself back to sleep. My daughter went through a phase of night waking and we are still having some issues with bedtime being a big battle but the night waking didn't last too long- hang in there.

Nobody tells us as parents that we'll teach them to sleep through the night and then we have to teach them all over again as toddlers :)

I am having the same problem with my 18 month old son. He has always been a solid sleeper, 2-3 hour naps and 11-12 hours at night. We thought all the restlessness was due to teething but no do not believe that is the problem. Also, he is not a self-soother, yet. Good luck!

A little about me:

I'm a SAHM and my husband is super! Out son is our first after 15 years of marriage.

Hi Sam,,,
Are you waking him up or his he waking up crying???? if your waking him up he's tired and if not i'd think he's having bad dreams ,,,what if anything has changed in his life ,,,if it has you need to reassure him all is well and he his loved all so much more every day

good luck L.

My two year old was doing this a couple of months ago. As one response said earlier, when they transition into a toddler, sometimes, they have to learn how to fall asleep on their own again. With my daughter, she would wake up both in the morning and from nap time absolutely crying. I would go into her room, and hug and kiss her. Once she calmed down, I actually would tell her, "You don't have to cry, honey, just call for mommy and I will come and get you." Everytime I would say this. The next day, she woke up crying, but at least that time, she would cry out "Mommy, Mommy!" I did the same this time, telling her she didn't need to cry. Within a week, the crying went away. Now she wakes up perfectly happy. (Most of the time.) :-) Good luck!

My daughter started doing that after we started potty training her. If we didn't make sure to take her before bed she would wake up like clockwork and cry. For a while we didn't figure it out, but we just took her to the potty (she was not even awake really) and she immedietly went potty and went right back to sleep. Sometimes she does it even when we are really consistent about taking her potty before bed. It may not be the case for you, but just an idea to think about :)

Sometimes that is alergy related...their ears hurt or itch and they can't tell anyone, you might try a touch of benadryl???

Lots of kiddos go through this because they are overly tired and overly stressed with new surroundings. They cant handle overload very well. Try at different times durring the day to just sit with him and hold him giving him hugs and kisses. This will help if he is feeling stressed and needs a brain break. Kindof like us as grown ups when we want to pull out our hair and we just need to step back and talk to someone or hug someone. Another way is to know his pattern and go in there to wake him up in a good way like singing a sweet funny song or tickleing him. you can even lay down with him to try and make him more comfortable to sleep alittle longer.

I wish you well.

He may have sleep apnea. My granddaughter did. If this persists, then mention it to your doctor. Sometimes when you get into a very deep sleep you have to do something to wake yourself out of it. May be bad dreams? Did he see something that frightened him recently? Summer sleep is different from winter sleep. Could he be a little dehydrated? Or it could be something he will outgrow.

This could be something as simple as gas. Recheck his diet and see if this may be the problem. Sugars some greens such as broccoli beans of course will cause gas. And little one do not understand that pain.

My almost three year old has been doing that this summer, too, after naptime. If I hold him and tell him I'll help him wake up slowly he likes that. Then I offer him a drink and he always stops crying right away. I think he's waking up really thirsty, and even though he can talk, he's too drowsy to know what he needs right away so that's why he cries. An easy idea worth a try for your little guy. Good luck!
P.

Hey there. I have a 1 year old and a 2 year old, both girls by the way. My oldest used to do that too, she isn't a very good sleeper in the first place. But, she gets a nap at 11:00 in the morning and one around 4:00. She sleeps for about 2 hours in the morning and 1 in the afternoon. I have realized that if she skips the naps, gets out of routine, or whatever, then it affects her sleeping at night. Whether or not she goes to sleep during those naps (and eventually she got used to it) I still put her down in there so she can relax and have time to herself. The less she is used to sleeping the more she wakes up crying. Now, since I have followed a strick routine she sleeps through the night. I hope this helps a little bit. Good luck.