Crying Wake Up

Updated on October 28, 2008
B.T. asks from Philadelphia, PA
18 answers

Just curious if this happens to other people and what you try to do about it, if there is anything to do: most times, my 14 mo. old daughter wakes up crying, especially after her nap. It takes 20-30 min of cuddling, bottle, maybe a snack for her to get her wits about her and continue on in her playful ways. any thoughts/suggestions/commiseration? Thanks.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

Thanks for all of the suggestions and sharing your experiences. I've got some good ideas to try out, but it's nice to know that it's something that happens to lots of kids. Thanks again

Featured Answers

A.J.

answers from Williamsport on

My daughter does this too, it used to be much worse, now it's only sometimes. Even if she isn't crying, she'll be frail and cranky for a while. Many of my friends kids do it too-no advice really, just empathy!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

I've always been told that if a child wakes up crying it's because they haven't slept long enough. Perhaps try to lay her back down and rub her back or something to get her to nap for another 20-30 minutes.

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.A.

answers from Pittsburgh on

B.,my daughter who is 2.5 still will wake up sometimes like that due to being wet or just didnt get enough sleep and was woken up prematurely and it just takes alittle while before she snaps out of it. I just give juice,favorite program and alittle food and she bounces back! Its just their way of saying.....I need..........since it doesnt happen that often I know she is getting what she needs!

No worries
S.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

L.N.

answers from Pittsburgh on

My son does that too, he's 14 mos. My neices and nephews have done that too, some are way older than babies. I think maybe they just wake up too fast or sooner than they wanted and are just moody, lol.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.W.

answers from Erie on

I would just keep cuddling and comforting her. She may be having dreams, or she may just be calling you because she woke up alone. The other thing is that she may sleep very heavily and be somewhat disoriented when she wakes up. That happens to us sometimes, too, when we take naps. All you can really do is treat the symptoms and be sure she knows she is well loved !

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.J.

answers from Reading on

My daughter is 2-1/2 and still wakes up from naps crying about 80% of the time. It's hard. She even gets to the point where she won't let me touch her, so on those days I have found that if I just let her go for about 5 minutes or so, she does much better. But I usually try to hold her for awhile before I do anything else, like even changing her diaper. I'll bring her downstairs and cuddle with her while she watches Caillou and that usually helps.

It is getting better though, so I know she'll grow out of it. Either that, or she'll outgrow her naps first! :) Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Poor little thing! What about leave some soft music playing in her room while she's sleeping/napping. She'll have a familiar sound when she opens her eyes?

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

F.V.

answers from Lancaster on

B.,
My son is 29 months old and does that every now and then. Just hold her and comfort her before you change her diaper. Let her calm down before you do anything. Also, it may be teeth. Those 'eye' teeth are quite painful coming in. Give infant tylenol before naptime. make sure you are giving enough too! Your Dr will let you know how much based on weight and age. I was giving too little. But better to be safe giving a little less than too much I guess but you want it to do what it is supposed to do.
Good luck
C

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.T.

answers from Philadelphia on

I didn't read the other responses so I might be repeating someone else . . . but I found that both of my children went through phases like that! We couldn't figure out why they'd wake up crying vs. their usual happy, singing selves. So we just chalked it up to a phase, and the fact that they were not ready to be awake yet but couldn't get back to sleep!
I also found that I would have to leave them in their cribs until they "came down" from it themselves. When I'd run and get them in the middle of the melt-down, it would take forever to soothe them (especially my daughter)! So I'd suggest letting her settle herself down first, if you can handle it. It usually took about 10-15 minutes and then she'd be her happy self again!
Good luck!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.M.

answers from Harrisburg on

My son, who is now 27, sometimes would wake up from his naps being unconsolable. He was diagnosed with asthma when he was 7. I have always wondered if he was having breathing problems when he woke up. I can't confirm it - it's just a mother's hunch.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.R.

answers from Philadelphia on

B. .. who knows but the little people why they wake up crying my 14 month old son does that too. Alot of times it's because he didnt get ENOUGH sleep :) !! whatever the reason for them crying may be, enjoy the cuddling time you have w/ your baby. the tears are worth every minute of cuddling because they grow up SO fast !!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

My son is 15 months now, but he was definitely doing that about a month ago. I think it may have been because he was still tired. I ended up having to take him outside to calm down - he loves the outdoors. That crying after naps phase passed . . . I realized it may have coincided with him getting some molars. Maybe check that out. Naps have been tough for me lately - not sure why, but I'm realizing that many of the things I stress over will pass. Best wishes!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

E.F.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I can commiserate with you. My 12 mo does exactly the same thing. My bil is the SLOWEST person in the world to wake up, so maybe he got it from his Uncle James... but I'm hoping he grows out of it.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.M.

answers from Philadelphia on

My 6 year old used to do that. My husband and i would think she was still in some sort of sleepy world. She did eventually grow out of it. It was so sad when it happenend though. I would just hold her tight for a little while until she came around. I never did figure out exactly why...

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Philadelphia on

It sounds like a sleep terror of sorts to me. Does she seem to respond to you or things around her or is more like her eyes are open but not really seeing? If it's the latter it's likely a sleep terror type experience. In that case, it's best to make sure your daughter is safe (i.e. - not likely to fall out of bed or something) and give her some space. I know it seems counterintuitive, but if that's what it is then the child is sort of trapped between being asleep and awake and may not respond as well to being held as you might expect (though all kids are different). I agree with the others who suggested you try to give your daughter 10-15 minutes and see how she does. She may either snap out of it or fall back to sleep.

All 3 of my kids have had night terrors, including some when waking from naps. With them, if it was at night they would scream wildly for 5-10 minutes (though sometimes much longer) and then suddenly just stop and lay down and fall fast asleep. With naps, they generally didn't fall back to sleep, though they would sometimes snap to after a few minutes. I also agree with trying a snack and/or favorite TV show to help your daughter transition to being awake.

For what it's worth, night terrors are more common when kids are overtired, which can often happen when giving up a nap (like from 2 to 1 or giving them up completely), teething, or being ill. The changes in naps were always big night terror times here, but the good news is that once they adjusted the terrors tapered off.

Good luck.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

she could be getting more teeth. give her some baby tylenol or some stuff for her gums. check her diaper of course when she wakes up also. some babies do not like being wet or soiled. some children also are cranky when they wake up. she could be upset if she is woken up by someone or something versus waking up by herself.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.B.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I remember my son (now 2) doing the same thing, and he did eventually grow out of it. I used to go in his room and pick him up and cuddle and talk softly to him for a few minutes before I changed his diaper, then I would bring him downstairs and have his cup of milk ready for him and "Elmo's World" all ready on the DVR. Soon he finally stopped crying shortly after he woke up but he always knew it was time to 'get milk and watch Elmo'! Maybe some sort of routine like that would help her?

B.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Hi B.! The little 14 mo old guy I babysit has been doing the same thing all week! He is normally the happiest little guy around. No changes in food, laundry, routine...he has just been waking up from his naps crying. I wonder if the problem is the sudden change in the weather? I just cuddle him and turn on the noggin channel that seems to work best for "my" little guy. Best wishes.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions