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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Foul mood after nap

29 replies

Kafri · 11/07/2014 22:37

My DS wakes up from his nap in an absolutely foul mood. Routine is always the same. Out in the morning, home for lunch, nap at 12.30/1. When he wakes from his nap he's just awful. Whines on waking, never babbles or chatters. I go in to get him and bring him downstairs for his cup of milk but he just starts screaming at me. And I mean screaming!! It was 15 mins today before he just stopped and drank his milk. Comforting doesn't do anything, in fact he'll generally pull away completely. I'm just completely at a loss as to what to try. Any suggestions?

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OutragedFromLeeds · 11/07/2014 22:46

I think a lot of kids are like this. DC2 was and DC4 is. Are you waking him up? If so, maybe let him wake by himself. If he is already awake and quiet in his cot, leave him until he calls you to get him. Maybe he is just not a 'morning' person.

Original poster

Kafri · 11/07/2014 22:51

Noooo, never wake him!! Lol

He wakes by himself and immediately cries for me. Morning is better than afternoon at the min. I can cope with the waking whining for us. It's the waking up and then screaming for 15/20 mins that's doing my tree in. The all of a sudden he'll just stop and drink his milk like that's what he was waiting for all along.

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FruitBasedDrinkForALady · 11/07/2014 22:51

Multi-purpose your living zones; with strategic toy placement, your relaxation zone can become a home gym/assault course.

PisforPeter · 11/07/2014 22:54

My DD can be like that sometimes & even the usual cuddle won't soothe her but CBeebies does. (Sigh)

HauntedNoddyCar · 11/07/2014 22:57

I used to silently hand Dd her drink and retreat to the other side of the room until she was ready. I could do it without her going off like a rocket but it was an art.

Original poster

Kafri · 11/07/2014 22:58

If only he could tell me what the problem is. I hate that whatever it is, I can't seem to solve it and screaming seems his only option.

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McWeedie · 11/07/2014 22:59

My DT's do this sometimes, it means they are still tired and would rather have not woken. I've found that if I bring them downstairs and make a snuggly bed on the sofa with pillows and a rug, drink of milk and CBeebies they calm down. I go off and potter in the kitchen, they are too grumpy to be cuddled or comforted they just want to be left alone.

Back2Two · 11/07/2014 23:00

This reply has been withdrawn

This post has been withdrawn due to privacy concerns

PisforPeter · 11/07/2014 23:02

Exactly weedie

Original poster

Kafri · 11/07/2014 23:14

He's like this whether he's had 1 hour or two and he will only sleep in his cot with the room dark so I have never been able to get him to go back to sleep once he's woken.
Will give the cosy couch a go though and see if just being quiet in the living room helps him to cope better.

OP posts:

WhatAHooHa · 11/07/2014 23:31

How old is he? DS had got like this, followed by a whole afternoon of grump. I shortened his nap (he used to call for me after 2 hours, now I go and get him up after 1 hour) and he's completely different. think he had that groggy sort of feeling when you've slept too long, maybe.

FruitBasedDrinkForALady · 11/07/2014 23:34

Oops,my post was clearly on the wrong thread!

frames · 11/07/2014 23:38

Dd was doing this at about 6 months. It went on for a few months, and then passed. She gave up naps at 3 years, so you may get some peace yet. Narky now when she is tired:-)

Catabelle · 12/07/2014 05:18

My DS was like this too. It seemed to get worse towards the time that he was ready to drop his nap. We ended up stopping him napping in the end as he never slept that long and we never got to do anything nice in the afternoons as it would take a good couple of hours of crying, whinging, moaning before he wanted to do anything or leave the house! I now dread him waking up if he ever drops off on the sofa after nursery or anything!

slightlyconfused85 · 12/07/2014 07:31

I've got of these. I immediately present her with small snack, put the tv on and ride it out. Can sometimes be grumpy for.an hour. At worst case I.shove her in the car and drive around for 10 minutes. I mist be one of the only parents looking forward to the end of napping!

slightlyconfused85 · 12/07/2014 07:34

Catabelle what age was this?

EatDessertFirst · 12/07/2014 09:50

DS did this up until he dropped his nap at about 2.5(?).

I would place a drink and a snack in his eyeline and retreat to a safe distance, out of sight, until he'd calmed down and came to find me. Even the very sight of me or his dad on waking would make him rage.

This too shall pass. But it seems pretty normal!!

Catabelle · 12/07/2014 10:10

For my DS it was between 2.5 and 3. As lovely as it was him still having a nap, I was so relieved once he stopped. We just have 'quiet time' now where we ask him to chill on the sofa with either stories or a bit of telly for half an hour. It just gives him a chance to recharge and wind down.

divingoffthebalcony · 12/07/2014 10:25

My DD used to be like this. Sometimes she would wake up screaming and not stop for 20 minutes. It would usually take over an hour until she was fully herself. It's a personality thing, I think. She's always been highly strung!

hotdog74 · 12/07/2014 12:04

Mine was exactly like this when younger. The only thing that worked for me was giving her something to eat and a drink straight away and then just leaving her to eat and drink in peace. She was usually ok after that - it was almost like she needed a bit of an energy boost to get going again.

Original poster

Kafri · 12/07/2014 13:31

Thank you ladies, nice to know in not alone - though I do feel for you!!

He's 18m so got a while to go for naps yet. He's a narky monster when tired and a narky monster when hegets back up so it seems I can't win either way at the minute.

But yeah, you're right - this too shall pass!!

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jaybirdsinginginthedeadofnight · 12/07/2014 14:07

DD has just stopped doing this at 2.3, we never did work out why it happened! But the only thing that helped was letting her watch a Mickey Mouse episode til she came round Thank goodness for Mickey

ShineSmile · 12/07/2014 14:16

My DD does this sometimes. It's mostly because she is still tired, and what I do is go in, breastfeed her and then she has a nap. It might also be because you are not there when she wakes up, but you were there when she fell asleep? How about placing her favourite toy (teddy?) next to her so when she wakes up, he is there

quesadilla · 12/07/2014 15:30

My DD is like this. Is now 3.5 and naps a lot less but is invariably grumpy when she wakes up. Especially if she is woken. I try to avoid this but sometimes can't.

The only things that will soothe her are TV and milk, depressingly.

I think its just one of those things, to be honest.

Original poster

Kafri · 12/07/2014 18:19

I tried a different approach today.
Usually once I hear him, I warm his milk and while it's in the microwave, go and get him and bring him down for his milk.
Today, I took his milk up with me and he had it in his cot with the room still dark. Then I opened his blind and picked him up - not a single scream, cry etc. quite happily got up, got back dressed and out the door to baby group.
Not saying I've cracked it but one day of peacefulness was lovely. See what tomorrow brings!

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