Wake Up Crying

[Brooksie]

3rd day in a row this boy has been waking up after about 40 mins of nap and unable to go back to sleep. Totally exhausted, eyes still closed, crying. He generally sleeps 2-3 hours and is 12 mo old. By my judgement, if you wake up crying you're not ready to wake up. It used to be if he woke up he would fuss a min and fall back to sleep but the past couple days he stays up and cries. I try to go in and lay him back down or rub his back (which sometimes helps) but then as soon as I walk away he starts crying again. I'm thinking he's uncomfortable. They just switched him to milk and he's been having trouble pooping. I know he needs to nap but he won't fall asleep. I know if I get him up from nap I will have to hold him for 45 minutes because he's exhausted and I don't want to do that because that's ridiculous at 12 mo.


What would you guys do?

[Heidi]

I go in once, maybe, and say "it's still nap time" very quietly, just to reassure them. Then, I go to CIO for the rest of nap. They almost always go back to sleep. I also believe if they wake up crying, it's generally a sign they're still tired.

[Brooksie]

I go in once, maybe, and say "it's still nap time" very quietly, just to reassure them. Then, I go to CIO for the rest of nap. They almost always go back to sleep. I also believe if they wake up crying, it's generally a sign they're still tired.

I did that at first and he kept crying. I waited, he kept crying. I went in, he kept crying. Then he started screaming. Eyes still closed exhausted.
Its now been 30 minutes and hes still crying. Only difference now is I;m holding him to try to get him comfortable. Hes got about 2 more minutes and then I'm putting him down. crying or not.Oh great, now he's woken up someone else

[Shell]

I dealt with this same issue yesterday! It was so hard because dcb was waking up every 30 minutes and nap time is the only break for the whole day. I would rub his back, just about get him down, and one of the older kids would make a noise and dcb would be up again I finally gave up - in all my years, I've never given up on getting a child down for nap, but nothing was working for long. Since you dcb isnt usually like this, maybe yours is just going through a phase? I would just be consistent, "naptime isn't over yet " and maybe give some soft books or toys if you cant get him back down? Good luck.

[melilley]

If he used to sleep and hasn't been for the past few days, then something could be bothering him.
My ds has been waking up and crying after 30 -45 minutes and also at night. We took him to the doctor and he has an ear infection. Maybe he's so constipated that it hurts and it's hard to sleep?.

[Brooksie]

If he used to sleep and hasn't been for the past few days, then something could be bothering him.
My ds has been waking up and crying after 30 -45 minutes and also at night. We took him to the doctor and he has an ear infection. Maybe he's so constipated that it hurts and it's hard to sleep?.

That's what I'm thinking. Something is bothering him. He was just switched to milk and hes been struggling to poop the smallest bit. He WANTS to sleep but can't. Even when I was holding him he was fussy. I have since gotten both woken babies up and he seems ok now. Looks exhausted but doesn't seem uncomfortable... idk.

[Heidi]

If he used to sleep and hasn't been for the past few days, then something could be bothering him.
My ds has been waking up and crying after 30 -45 minutes and also at night. We took him to the doctor and he has an ear infection. Maybe he's so constipated that it hurts and it's hard to sleep?.

If he is also doing this at night, I agree with Melilley. Sudden wakings like that often indicate and ear infection or possibly new teeth. If there are any other symptoms at all, like tugging on the ears, a runny nose, etc., and if he's having trouble sleeping at night, too, I'd ask parents to have his ears checked. It's always better to make sure it's not physical before you treat it as a behavior.

One thing I don't do is ever pick them up if they should go back to sleep. I find that it's confusing to them, and if they're in that sleep-cant sleep-scream-flailing place, they tend to get MORE roused if you try to rock or soothe. If you must touch him, a soft hair stroke or back rub would probably be better. Just a quick reassurance, though, and then off you go.

[melilley]

That's what I'm thinking. Something is bothering him. He was just switched to milk and hes been struggling to poop the smallest bit. He WANTS to sleep but can't. Even when I was holding him he was fussy. I have since gotten both woken babies up and he seems ok now. Looks exhausted but doesn't seem uncomfortable... idk.

Plus if you think about it, when you relax it's easier to poo. Maybe when he goes to sleep, his body is so relaxed that his body is trying to get it out, and it hurts so it wakes him up...just a thought.

[Brooksie]

If he is also doing this at night, I agree with Melilley. Sudden wakings like that often indicate and ear infection or possibly new teeth. If there are any other symptoms at all, like tugging on the ears, a runny nose, etc., and if he's having trouble sleeping at night, too, I'd ask parents to have his ears checked. It's always better to make sure it's not physical before you treat it as a behavior.

One thing I don't do is ever pick them up if they should go back to sleep. I find that it's confusing to them, and if they're in that sleep-cant sleep-scream-flailing place, they tend to get MORE roused if you try to rock or soothe. If you must touch him, a soft hair stroke or back rub would probably be better. Just a quick reassurance, though, and then off you go.

I try to not pick babies up with normal sleep disturbances, actually, never do. But if something is going on and he's uncomfortable don't you think there is a point where he needs to be comforted?

[Heidi]

I try to not pick babies up with normal sleep disturbances, actually, never do. But if something is going on and he's uncomfortable don't you think there is a point where he needs to be comforted?

yes, definitely. I'm not saying don't ever do it. I wasn't sure how tough you were, so I was trying to give you encouragement to not cave. That said, if there is a physical reason, it's definitely fair to comfort.

What are we doing about the constipation? More water, prune juice?

As I write this, my 11 1/2 month old has thrown his pacifier out of bed for the 2nd time today (morning nap, too), and he's out of luck. He's raging, but I am NOT playing this game. I feel bad for him, but running up the stairs 2-3 times during nap, risking waking everyone else, is not happening. Good to know, though, that mom said it took him an hour to fall asleep at home one day because he tried that on her.

[Brooksie]

yes, definitely. I'm not saying don't ever do it. I wasn't sure how tough you were, so I was trying to give you encouragement to not cave. That said, if there is a physical reason, it's definitely fair to comfort.

What are we doing about the constipation? More water, prune juice?

As I write this, my 11 1/2 month old has thrown his pacifier out of bed for the 2nd time today (morning nap, too), and he's out of luck. He's raging, but I am NOT playing this game. I feel bad for him, but running up the stairs 2-3 times during nap, risking waking everyone else, is not happening. Good to know, though, that mom said it took him an hour to fall asleep at home one day because he tried that on her.

Yea, see that's a game that I don't play either. but he seems like there is something else going on. I just touched base with mom and she said he's been sleeping no problem. Sooooo I'm not really sure what to think at this point.

[Heidi]

Well, it took pacifier launcher and hour of intermittent yelling, but he finally caved.

Mom said the other day she was ready to ditch the pacifiers, and I agreed, but we need to get the mom of our other 11 mo on board, and she's hesitant, at least until after the holidays.

wup...soemone's yelling again! It's gonna be me soon!::