DCB Screams When I Pick Him Up From Nap

[Symphony]

This is making me crazy! DCB is 13 months and takes two naps a day. He is the first one awake of the kids who sleep at these times. So everyday, he takes his nap and when he wakes up he stands and fusses a bit. Doesn't cry, just little sounds to say, "I'm up!" Then as soon as he sees me, he SCREAMS bloody murder. This continues for a couple minutes after I've been holding him. Then he's totally fine again, happy, playing, himself! I don't get it and he's waking everyone up!

I've had him FT since he was 6wks, he is very attached, and mom says he has never done this at home. It has happened at almost every nap here for the last two weeks. He also did it for awhile at 9 months, but it stopped. Any ideas why or suggestions? Thanks!

[Symphony]

A month later and I am still dealing with this. It is like he is being woken up with a hot poker.


Anybody????

[PeanutsGalore]

He's not acting like he's in pain, is he? My son is a bit fussy after naps, but not all the time. Mostly, it's if he hasn't finished his nap yet, and then he wakes up SCREAMING! I finally figured out that I needed to get him back to sleep quickly so he would wake up refreshed and happy. I suspect he has some reflux issues going on, but they're manageable so far.

Maybe this little one is developing some gastro issues? Has his diet changed at all in the last 6 weeks?

I wish I could be more help. Sorry you're dealing with this. This is the hardest job I've ever had...parents should kiss the ground we walk on that their kids are happy and healthy by the end of the day!

[SilverSabre25]

hmm, that's a weird one. I have several who get really fussy/cuddly/clingy after naps, but nothing quite like that.

[Symphony]

Thanks for the replies. I don't think he is in pain and I don't think it is medical...mom is a pediatrician and she is pretty on top of everything. But, he doesn't ever do it for her either. I guess it seems like if it were medical it would be constant, not just at my house, right?

It isn't exactly how he wakes up, it is just when he sees me come into the nap room. It is giving me a complex! ::

I kind of want to leave him when he starts screaming until he can come play calmly, but the time it takes me to get in and get him out of there is enough to practicualy get everyone else up anyway. If he were taking decent naps it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I'm lucky if I get two 30 minute ones out of him.

At home he sleeps in a crib and takes good naps. Here we sleep in pack n plays. Yesterday, I had him on the couch next to me when I was entering my lunch into the computer and he fell asleep. The other littles weren't here, so I just left him there. I watched a movie and he slept for over two hours!

I just don't know what to do. After that huge nap yesterday, I am wondering if he is just still tired. If I leave him though everyone else wakes up and then none of them go back to sleep

[treehugger82]

Just my humble opinion....

Well, this is just my humble opinion but....my daugher and niece were the same way.

First, I would put him in a different room. Second, I would NOT go in there the minute he fusses, and if he saw me and started screaming, I would turn and walk out of the room. When he stops, maybe he will go back to sleep, or maybe he will learn to NOT scream when he sees you. If he screams again, walk out again. Even at this young age, I would look at my daughter or neice and calmly say "When you can stop screaming, you can come out. We don't scream." A lot of times they would cry for a minute, and then go back to sleep. If it is not medical, and he doesn't do this at home....I hate to say it, but it may be something he has become accustomed to at your house. Kids are VERY good at "training" adults, and then also even better at keeping the game going. It's really human nature, but as adults, most of us know acceptable limits (notice I said *most*, ). He knows that you will quickly come and get him, and you feel like you have to b/c of the other kids. Put him in a different room and that problem is solved. Sounds to me like he is still tired and for some reason, maybe just knowing that there are other children in the room, he is over stimulated (or over tired) to the point where he cannot relax enough to get a good rest in. Add in the "game" he's got going here, and voila, no nap! I know not everyone is a fan of the cry it out method, but if it is to the point where he is not napping properly and you are losing your sanity, it's worth a shot.
Good luck!

[nannyde]

If he were taking decent naps it wouldn't be such a big deal, but I'm lucky if I get two 30 minute ones out of him.

Yikes

He needs at least a two hour nap every day in the afternoon and a good hour or so in the morning.

Can you give him his own room? A baby that age needs a LOT of sleep. He doesn't even have time to get into deep sleep if he's getting up in a half hour.

[Michael]

Well, this is just my humble opinion but....my daugher and niece were the same way.

First, I would put him in a different room. Second, I would NOT go in there the minute he fusses, and if he saw me and started screaming, I would turn and walk out of the room. When he stops, maybe he will go back to sleep, or maybe he will learn to NOT scream when he sees you. If he screams again, walk out again. Even at this young age, I would look at my daughter or neice and calmly say "When you can stop screaming, you can come out. We don't scream." A lot of times they would cry for a minute, and then go back to sleep. If it is not medical, and he doesn't do this at home....I hate to say it, but it may be something he has become accustomed to at your house. Kids are VERY good at "training" adults, and then also even better at keeping the game going. It's really human nature, but as adults, most of us know acceptable limits (notice I said *most*, ). He knows that you will quickly come and get him, and you feel like you have to b/c of the other kids. Put him in a different room and that problem is solved. Sounds to me like he is still tired and for some reason, maybe just knowing that there are other children in the room, he is over stimulated (or over tired) to the point where he cannot relax enough to get a good rest in. Add in the "game" he's got going here, and voila, no nap! I know not everyone is a fan of the cry it out method, but if it is to the point where he is not napping properly and you are losing your sanity, it's worth a shot.
Good luck!

Oh no, another Tree Hugger! :: Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum!

[treehugger82]

Oh no, another Tree Hugger! :: Welcome to the Daycare.com Forum!

Thank you!!::

[kendallina]

When my daughter (2 yrs old) wakes up in the morning she talks to herself and even fusses a little for quite a while. If I go in when she does this, she'll be really cranky for 10 minutes or so. But, when I wait until she starts saying, "mommy mommy" then she's in a super duper mood and we have no problems. I take it she just needs to kind of wake up herself a little and doesn't want to be bothered until she's ready. Sometimes she even falls back asleep for a little bit . I'd leave him there and see what happens. Good luck!

[sahm2three]

Well, this is just my humble opinion but....my daugher and niece were the same way.

First, I would put him in a different room. Second, I would NOT go in there the minute he fusses, and if he saw me and started screaming, I would turn and walk out of the room. When he stops, maybe he will go back to sleep, or maybe he will learn to NOT scream when he sees you. If he screams again, walk out again. Even at this young age, I would look at my daughter or neice and calmly say "When you can stop screaming, you can come out. We don't scream." A lot of times they would cry for a minute, and then go back to sleep. If it is not medical, and he doesn't do this at home....I hate to say it, but it may be something he has become accustomed to at your house. Kids are VERY good at "training" adults, and then also even better at keeping the game going. It's really human nature, but as adults, most of us know acceptable limits (notice I said *most*, ). He knows that you will quickly come and get him, and you feel like you have to b/c of the other kids. Put him in a different room and that problem is solved. Sounds to me like he is still tired and for some reason, maybe just knowing that there are other children in the room, he is over stimulated (or over tired) to the point where he cannot relax enough to get a good rest in. Add in the "game" he's got going here, and voila, no nap! I know not everyone is a fan of the cry it out method, but if it is to the point where he is not napping properly and you are losing your sanity, it's worth a shot.
Good luck!

This! I agree! I would try to put him in his own room, and let him fuss. Good luck! Anything nap/sleep related is nightmarish to deal with!

[PeanutsGalore]

Well, this is just my humble opinion but....my daugher and niece were the same way.

First, I would put him in a different room. ...
Good luck!

This. If he fell asleep when he was away from the other kids and on a comfy surface, I'd change his sleeping environment. Is it possible to get him a crib? Maybe his mom would like to get him one so he sleeps better? No matter, I'd change where he's sleeping so he has a more comfy and isolated napping experience. maybe he'll sleep for more than 30 minutes, and you'll be able to let him fuss for a few minutes without waking everyone else up, which may be all it takes for him to put himself back to sleep.

[Symphony]

I'll try and figure out where I can get him in an area by himself. My house has three levels, but the main one is the only one I am allowed to use for daycare, as the other two only do not have proper fire exits (we cannot have the only exits be up or down stairs). Anyway, my main level has a family room, kitchen and attached dining room, two daycare rooms that connect by three stairs, the foyer, laundry room with bathroom, and the living room which is my sleep area. The entire main level is open, the only door is to the bathroom. So I may have to get creative to try and find a seperate place for him to go.

Ok so working on the assumption that I am creative and figure out a second spot...I lay him down awake and he yells, sometimes cries for less than five minutes. Then he'll start fussing/crying about 30 minutes later. What is the best thing to do then? Go in and lay him down in his bed again? Ignore it until it has been a more appropriate time? How long before I give up and go get him?

Today I only had him and my own kids (most people only work and the schools are open open Mon-Thurs here), so this afternoon when he woke up, I went to get him and he started the screaming. I said, "Oh goodness I can't hold you when you are screaming" and I left the room again. He screamed like a banshee for about an hour, standing up the whole time, so I went and got him. Was that bad? Should I have stayed out?

Sorry for all the questions, I really appreciate the help!

[snowborden1]

First, I would put him in a different room. Second, I would NOT go in there the minute he fusses, and if he saw me and started screaming, I would turn and walk out of the room.



I have a little one who is 11 months who does the exact same thing. And he doesn't do it at home either. I will try this with him also! Thanks

[daysofelijah]

My 12 month old dcg wakes up a half hour into nap time every day and starts screaming and crying. I wait 5-10 minutes to see if she will stop. If she doesn't stop I go in give her a bottle and then put her back in her crib and tell her to go back to sleep. Then I leave and if she fusses, she fusses.

She needs a 2 hour nap and I need a break. Usually she will go back to sleep within 20 minutes, but once in a while she will fuss and complain the whole rest of naptime. As long as she is fed, clean diaper and has had a busy time of play between her morning nap and afternoon nap she needs to sleep. She has a separate room from all the older kids so she doesn't wake them up.