Won’t stop crying

[candlemasbells]

Any tips for how to stop my 3.5 year old crying when he wakes up. It happens if he naps or if he wakes in the night. This afternoon he’s been crying for 15 mins. The other night he managed over an hour at midnight. I’ve tried cuddling, distracting, bring firm. I’ve asked what’s wrong and he can’t tell me but he does have speech delay, pronunciation rather than language understanding.
He’s done it for a long time after naps but the naps are few and far between, the crying after night wakings is increasing.

Nightmare or night terrors? What have you tried asking him during the day why he gets upset?

With my DS it was thirst, once he's had a drink he calmed down.

Thank you, I have asked him and he cant tell me, even if I ask later when he's not crying.