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Original poster

Pre-teen crying and confused after nap

31 replies

IndigoViolin · 25/10/2022 18:28

Has anyone else experienced this? Dc had a little nap this afternoon - we've had a lazy day but they needed a bit of time to calm down following a board game argument and they fell asleep in their room. Obviously, dc doesn't normally nap during the day and hasn't for many years.

I woke them for dinner and they came downstairs, took their plate and sat down. 10 minutes later they were sobbing and couldn't explain why. I gave them a cuddle, and we continued to eat dinner.

After dc had finished eating, they asked me "what should i do now? I need to finish that race from the tv don't i? Do you want me to go now?"

Cue a lot of confusion from me and dc seemingly not understanding my answers (there isn't a race or anything they need to do). This lasted about 5 minutes and dc seems to be perfectly ok now, though is saying they are cold - we don't have the heating on but dc doesn't normally feel the cold as much as me and I'm actually ok.

It was all a bit weird. Were they sleepwalking?

OP posts:
Original poster
IndigoViolin · 25/10/2022 18:30

I appreciate reading this back that using "they" makes it sound like more than one child, but just to clarify I'm only talking about one child in this post. Sorry!

OP posts:
CombatBarbie · 25/10/2022 18:35

Sounds like they were still in dream mode. My mum said I used to do very similar when she used to wake me for the toilet when I was younger. I'd go get dressed or feed the fish etc.

RaininSummer · 25/10/2022 18:35

Did they have a dream whilst napping which stayed in their head?

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Whataplanker · 25/10/2022 18:38

Sounded like they were still half asleep. I sometimes feel a bit discombobulated and emotional after a nap especially if I have been woken rather than waking naturally.

LondonQueen · 25/10/2022 18:40

He/She were probably half asleep still.

blacksheep2014 · 25/10/2022 18:42

Wouldn't be surprised if they, are coming down with something, my dB used. To get like this when we were kids

Meltingsocks · 25/10/2022 18:44

I get very tearful and confused after naps so I've learned not to take them!

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 25/10/2022 18:45

Any other signs they're coming down with something?

Symptoms so far look like

  • irritability
  • tiredness
  • confusion

If they have a temperature, sore throat, headache etc I'd say it looks like some kind of virus.

hauntedvagina · 25/10/2022 18:46

Same age DC and this is precisely how they started with covid each time.

DeathMetalMum · 25/10/2022 18:47

I remember once waking up very upset saying 'I can't hold the house' possibly around a similar age. I had fallen asleep on the sofa so I'm pretty certain I was ill otherwise I'd have been in bed.

I'd guess they were coming down with something.

indecisivewoman81 · 25/10/2022 18:47

I reckon they are poorly. My kids get like this for a day or two before coming down with something

Original poster
IndigoViolin · 25/10/2022 19:05

Oh dear, I hope it not an early warning of being poorly. I like how the thread went through a clear thought process though!

OP posts:
Notsoyummymummy2 · 25/10/2022 19:14

Can I ask, was their speech completely normal? As in, words making full sense? X

2bazookas · 25/10/2022 19:14

Is DC got a bug or running a high fever? Sounds a bit delirious.

AliceMcK · 25/10/2022 19:14

As others have said, half asleep, coming down with something or just overwhelmed with emotions from earlier. He will have a lot of hormones rushing through his body at this age. This happens to my 10yo DD sometimes.

Original poster
IndigoViolin · 25/10/2022 19:14

No fever and speech was entirely normal.

OP posts:
Original poster
IndigoViolin · 25/10/2022 19:20

They have just come to tell me they're going to bed because they still feel tired - which never happens.

I'll probably be up worrying about them and checking on them all night now but poorly may be the answer here.

OP posts:
idontevenknowanyonecalledblurb · 25/10/2022 19:21

My son has done this before- not very often and usually when he's really tired. He's had a little sleep and then woken up confused and stayed confused and cold. We've just put it down to not properly waking up- almost like a sleep walk

Notsoyummymummy2 · 25/10/2022 19:22

It’s probably just confusion post-nap! I would keep an eye on them and pop in once through the night. If it happens again, let the GP know about the first incident too. Xxx

SummerHouse · 25/10/2022 19:30

Either growth spurt or coming down with something I think. I would just keep an eye on temperature. Hopefully all they need is a good night's sleep.

Jackiebrambles · 25/10/2022 19:34

My first thought was that they are coming down with something! I bet they'll get a temp soon.

Deadringer · 25/10/2022 19:36

I was exhausted and disoriented with covid, is that a possibility?

Puddlelane123 · 25/10/2022 19:40

My neighbour’s children do this every time they nap! They are aged 5 and 8 and their mum dreads them napping as they wake up in a state - crying, confused, unable to be comforted and often fixated on a random thought or concern that makes no sense. I’ve witnessed it myself and it is really bizarre.

onmywayamarillo · 25/10/2022 19:45

My kids had this a week ago! And then got full on flu! Always tired moaning/crying and then woke up with sore throat, glands up and felt shite for 4/5 days

QueSyrahSyrah · 25/10/2022 19:46

I'm 39 and sometimes spout a bit of random gobbledygook when I wake up from a nap, especially if I've been woken rather than waking up naturally Blush

Agree they may be coming down with something if they're more tired than usual, or maybe the unusual nap has thrown their body clock out a bit. I wouldn't worry at this stage though.

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