15 month old waking up screaming

[2008twin]

My 15 month old daughter was a great sleeper until the last few weeks. She is now waking up usually around 1-3 am (only once a night) screaming. She also has started doing this when she wakes up from her daytime nap, whereas before she would just quietly play with toys. Has anyone else had any experience of this or have any idea of the cause?

Sometimes my DS does this (19mo) whereas other times, like your DD, he just plays with his toys. It is usually when he is ill, or it could be a dream. I think they start to have them at this age.

Could she be teething or have a virus?

When my DS does this, I just go in pat/rub him on the back for a few a minutes and then leave the room. If he has a cold etc I give him some Calpol too. Often he will start screaming when I leave but I leave him for five minutes. Often he has gone back to sleep within five mins but if he hasn't I go back in again and rub his back and say 'shh, time for sleep now' and leave again. This time for 10 minutes - he is almost always asleep again within those 10 mins.

I find if I sit with him any longer it just prolongs the agony - he doesn't go to sleep and then I still have to go through the leaving him crying stage.