My 2.5 year old (3 in October) wakes up screaming and cranky everyday. He goes to bed at 8 and wakes at 6. Is that not enough sleep? I feel like he should be happy and well rested but he never is.
He also takes an hour nap most days. Please help. Him screaming, crying and being down right mean is a horrible way for all of us to wake up.
pear / 1961 posts
It's probably on the low end of normal, but may be HIS normal. Weissbluth would suggest putting him to bed earlier -- maybe starting in 15m increments and see how it goes.
What time is naptime? Is he well-rested and happy when he wakes up from that?
cantaloupe / 6669 posts
That's 11 hours... I would say he should get a little more than that. Sadie gets about 13-14 hours of sleep between 11ish hours at night and a solid 2-3 hour nap.
We are horrible about earlier bedtime. Any chance you could extend nap with blackout curtains or something like that?
coconut / 8472 posts
Maybe there are other factors making him unhappy? Too cold, too hot, too dark? Maybe he needs some comfort objects? Is he still in a crib or a bed?
grapefruit / 4079 posts
@KayKay: nap is between 12-1. He typically goes down closer to 12.
@daniellemybelle: I tried blackout curtains. I don't mind the wake time as much as I mind the crappy mood. He used to wake up so happy.
@ShootingStar: he can't tell my why he's sad and cranky. He sleeps in a bed with stuffed animals, two night lights and a blankie.
persimmon / 1467 posts
When my toddler started taking shorter naps we moved his nap time a little later and tried to add in an extra snack right before bed. We also leave him in his room till a designated wake up time (for naps and morning). He eventually stopped fighting it and started sleeping more again. My philosophy is You can't make him sleep more but you can give him plenty of opportunities to do so.
pomegranate / 3350 posts
@ladybee: my 2 year old will often wake up too early and in a really crabby mood. Those mornings he will sometimes go back to sleep in our bed for another 30 min to hour. Have you tried that?
eggplant / 11861 posts
@ladybee: awww I am sorry! My 19 month old wakes crying every time, her mood is fine the minute we go to her!
nectarine / 2115 posts
I would push bedtime up to 7:30 and push his nap a little later. 7 hours is a long time between sleeps for some kids; maybe aim for 1 and see how it goes? The whole "sleep begets sleep" thing has been very true for us. Could also be low blood sugar. My daughter wakes really cranky from her nap if she hasn't had enough protein.
nectarine / 2152 posts
That's what mine do (8-6 plus 1 hour nap) and they are fine for the most part. It's on the low side of the recommended sleep for toddlers his age but from what I recall, he's always been low-sleep needs, yes? Maybe he's hungry when he wakes up? Honestly, I think it's just the age. Mine are like that some days for no reason!
pear / 1563 posts
My 3 yo sleeps about 8 to 6 and more or less doesn't nap, so i think it's in the realm of normal, but i would be wondering myself given the crankiness. How had your LOs sleep been until recently? We've tried earlier bedtime a bunch of times with no luck.
pomelo / 5621 posts
DS is 3 and a few months. He has slept 20 hours at night and a 2-3 hour nap for a while now. Until about 3 months ago he always woke up crying or screaming. Now he wakes up and climbs into our bed.
I have no actual advice, just hugs.
pear / 1718 posts
@ladybee: is he starving when he wakes up (hangry?)? What.if you try giving him a protein Roch snack before bed?
How long does it take him to snap out of his mood? Is there anythingyou do that seems to help?
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
DS1 is low sleep needs. At that age, he slept around 10.5 hours at night and took a 1.5 hour nap most days (if he didn't nap he would sleep 11 at night). Always woke from his nap crying, no matter what.
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