1 Year Old Wakes Crying

My daughter who is turning one this week takes two naps a day--but they don't total two hours, so perhaps if he's getting a good nap in and then sleeping well all night, he IS getting enough sleep. Perhaps not; it's worth a shot at getting him more, but I wouldn't be overly concerned if it doesn't work. On the other hand--all three of my kids have woken crying at their crib...I've never had a kid that just woke up happy, in the dark and alone. They wake that way from naps and in the morning. All three of our kids have also gone through phases of what I consider extreme early morning waking (between 3:30 and 5 am). Lately, all three of our kids are getting up around 5:20 am. I'm not fond of it, my husband isn't fond of it, but there we have it. We have early risers; it just seems to be the way they are programmed.

Check out Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's book, "Sleepless in America." It seems counter intuitive, but she would probably recommend you try putting him to bed earlier, starting in 15 minute increments. Sleep begats sleep and overly tired crabby babies and toddlers sometimes have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep, although it sounds like he sleeps well during the night.

Read Happy Sleep habits, Happy Baby by Dr Wisebulth (sp) AWESOME BOOK. I recommend it to every parent I know.

How old exactly is he? If he's just around 1, he may still need 2 naps. Just a thought becasue sleep begets sleep. If he's waking at 4:30 or 5:00 - at his age I would be ignoring this wakeup and givng yourself a time that you will not go to him before. Probably 6:00 or so. He will probably fall back asleep. I've had to do this with my son a few different times with setting an "at the earliest time." This usually causes his body to "reset" or "reprogram" itself to a new wakeup time. Works! And, I would caution against later bedtimes hoping he will sleep in later - this absolutely does not work and often makes the problem worse. Keep the early bedtimes for his age (around 7 pm.)

As for why he wakes crying - I don't really know. Some kids just do this, I think. Does he act still tired? I would guess if it's 5 amd and he wakes crying it is because he is still not rested and that's why I would ignore.

Our daughter will be two in February and she still does that a few nights a week. She does it during naps too. Sometimes it's at 10pm, Midnight, 4am-no real consistency to time. My son had night terrors and this is not the same, but I think it's her waking up still half asleep and being confused by her surroundings. We try to let her cry it out, but usually that doesn't work. Last night it was 10:15 and she woke up, cried for about 20 minutes, just getting more and more upset-I went in to get her and she was obviously scared. She had turned on her light, (switch near crib), and was disoriented. I brought her to bed with us for 20 minutes for a snuggle and then put her back to bed and she was fine. I think at this age they just need to come out of that 'state' and realize they are ok and safe, then they settle back down.

With the waking up early-both our kids usually sleep at least until after 6, but I have heard lots of stories from friends about early risers and I think it's just depends on the child-sorry! Maybe try shortening naps? Otherwise, bring him in bed with you-I know lot's of people will say that's a no no, but they are still so little I don't think he'll still be doing it at 16 and besides you'll both sleep better--or, sometimes I bring my daughter in and she'll watch Mickey M Clubhouse in our bed while we sleep for another hour.