dd aged 21 mths screaming and distressed, very out of character

[levan]

This afternoon I woke my dd from her nap (I usually have to do this or she would sleep all afternoon!) and within a couple of minutes she began screaming and crying inconsolably. She didn't want to be cuddled by me or dp and was throwing herself around in great distress. This went on for 10-15 minutes and was totally out of character as she is normally a sunny little soul. Dp was so worried that he wanted to call an ambulance, but she eventually calmed down and has been fine since. Any ideas what this could be?

Two suggestions, both of which have happened to me recently, teething and/or trying it on. Seriously, I have been amazed at the strength of emotion that my DS (20 months) has recently discovered. Occassionally (thankfully it doesn't seem that often) he can be completely inconsolable with rage at something that he would usually not notice (a nappy change, a toy not working properly). May be the start of the terrible 2s. Also, mine has just had a couple of teeth come through - and they kind of snuck up on me so I hadn't noticed (no red cheeks, dribbling etc). I have also been caught out by not noticing that he'd caught a bit of skin in a zip or something equally banal as that! Do all the usual checks: too hot, too cold, does she look ill/well, is she eating, pooing etc as normal. Take her to the GP/call the GP if you really are worried.

It could be as said above an expression of emotion. DD is 15m and has these little attacks but they only last 30 secs at the moment. It sounds like she just wanted more sleep and was cross at being woken out of a deep one maybe?

It could be anything TBH. She simply might have been in a deep sleep and not ready to wake up, or she could have had a pain. I remember one of mine screamed one night and I was beside myself. Next day I noticed something had gone on in his ear as it was full of gunk.

Just keep an eye on here, check her temp, have a look in her mouth (molars coming?), ears. Perhaps she is coming down with something and needs more of a sleep for a day or two?

Frankly, it could be anything/something or nothing. But I wouldn't worry.

I second Crush - when my 19 mo is woken before time she is very upset for a good 10 minutes. Also getting into that tantrummy age, which is always a shock after the sweet babydom...

Really could be a number of things. My DS1 did a very similar thing (oddly at around the same age) - I put it down to tantrums / beig difficlut etc, and it turned out he had a bacterial infection - his bowel was twisting painful at intervals and he was actually in pain (how bad did I feel ?)
So i suppose, see if it happens again and take it from there. Otherwise, it may just have been a nigtmare / not wanting to wake up (mine does this too)
Good luck

sounds like possibly she was stuck in a stage of sleep and didn't wake up properly

Mine ALWAYS woke up like this!!! It is horrid to watch

Many thanks everyone. It did seem to me like a tantrum, although hard to know as she doesn't normally have them (yet!) - just confusing as there did not seem to be anything that could have triggered it off. Will keep a close eye on her though just in case she is poorly.

might be night terrors, DD used to do this, but during the night and would go back to sleep, it was awful, could do nothing to comfort her, it passes though. It could just be she wasnt in the right place to wake up just yet

could waking her have triggered it?

possibly, and if it turns out to be a one off, then more than likely. But my DD would wake spontaneously throughout the night, might be the transition between light and deep sleep - i dont think the experts really know. It is very upsetting though

Thanks again. I don't think waking her could have triggered it, as I invariably have to wake her for her afternoon sleep. She has been fine all day, so fingers crossed it was just a one off