New Morning Crying Routine

I am sorry. But he does stop - after 5-30 minutes. Try to notice when he ultimately stops crying and work on that. Try also to be kind but not fretful. Be confident that he will be all right, without being dismissive. Kids feel what we are feeling - they sense what we are not saying. So, be confident that he will be all right. This will help him in the long run. I am sorry I don't have more concrete ideas about how to make it go away right now.

Hi Vicki,
Here is my take on this based on my experience with my middle child.
He was very very manipulative. At about age 2 1/2 he would decide one morning he didn't like oatmeal and scream his head off because that's what I gave him. The next day he'd cry cause I put milk on his cereal and he didn't want milk. The next day he'd cry cause I heated up his oatmeal, or because I poured it in the bowl for him, or I gave him the wrong spoon, or whatever other reason he'd make up on the spot. I realized he was trying to manipulate all situations and everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was about him having all the control.
Once I came to this realization I just stopped catering to his requests cold turkey!! Actually one day before I gave him his oatmeal I explained that he was not to cry or complain or throw a fit about any of it and he agreed. I placed it in front of him and he instantly started fussing over the fact that I'd heated it up for him (his specific request) and I said "Are you going to eat this or not." He said "NO!" I took the oatmeal put it in the sink and walked away. He cried about it and said sorry and that he wanted it back. I took it out of the sink and put it back in front of him. He started fussing again because I'd put too much milk on it. This time I took it, dumped it into the sink told him breakfast is over lunch would be in 3 hours and walked away. He's never again fussed or thrown a fit over his oatmeal. I did similar things in other situations and when he realized I meant business and that I was in control not him, he simply gave up.
I don't know if this type of discipline would work on your son or not. I did have to use some tough love but it was very effective. This is the time to train your son that you are in charge not him!

I've heard of similar patterns in other children sometimes after waking. I'd think your son might be sleep deprived, but it sounds like he's probably getting plenty of rest.

The only suggestion I have is that you carefully avoid possible chemical toxins in his room, especially around his bed. Most surface sanitizers, air 'fresheners,' fabric softeners and the scents that are added to detergents are actually quite hazardous, and can accumulate in a child's body and cause sensitization over time. And children do spend a great deal of time in their beds…

I became sensitized to almost all synthetic chemicals almost 25 years ago, and boy, has that changed my life. There are so many places I can't go anymore without getting sick. I've been in group testing situations and watched many children go from calm and peaceful to raging and weeping just minutes after a tiny amount of some dilute chemical was squirted under their tongues. It's an amazing thing to watch a 'toxic' meltdown.

Whatever is going on, I hope you find an aswer.

My 2.5 y/o son has been like this too. Hes afraid of weird things now, throws fits over weird things. I dont get it either. I give him some lovin, and move on with what I have to do, and pretty much ignore it. Im not sure if thats what your supposed to do, but I dont have time to tip toe around him all the time. Im hoping its a phase, my daughter never did this.

Uggh I feel your pain! My 2 year is old does the exact same thing after waking up ( in the morning and after naps) and it drives me batty. Sometimes he gets so bad that I have to leave him in the room by himself just so I won't get too pissed off and hurt him. I'm really hoping it's just a phase--my guy gets PLENTY of sleep (about 15 hours a day between naps and bed) so being overtired is not the issue. I have noticed that it is worse when he is having a growth spurt though (sleeping and eating more--he gets insatiable and eats constantly when growth spurting) so I try to "greet" him when he wakes up with a cup of carnation instant breakfast. Maybe it's a dip in his blood sugar levels? Maybe he's hungry when he wakes up? You could give it a try. I'm really sorry you're going through this--i know how incredibly frustrating it can be.

Ha! My daughter and him could be twins! So my 2nd daughter just turned 2 in January and all of a sudden she was like your son. She would wake in her crib nice and happy and i would let her play in there a while before getting her out. Then the minute she was out of her crib she would start crying over stupid things. Like not wanting to change out of jammies, or because I gave her oatmeal for breakfast or because I needed to brush her teeth. All things that she has been doing everyday forever so why all of a sudden the change in behavior? Honestly I still have no idea but I did find something that worked. I took her out of her crib and put her in the bottom bunk in her sister's room. I thought that maybe she needed more down time out of her crib before starting all the morning stuff. So her and her sister (who is 4) got to bed at 8. They wake up around 7:30 and now she is able to just get out of bed all on her own. She will follow her sister downstairs and watch t.v. until I get up. And that has changed everything. No more morning crying. So maybe move him into a twin bed. When he wakes up just turn on the t.v. and let him be by himself to watch a cartoon or something. Then when he's done he'll be ready to eat, get dressed etc.

We have the same issue sometimes after a nap. Our daughter wakes up completely hysterical for no known reason. I couldn't figure it out, our son never did this. We were visiting my SIL and I witnessed her daughter having the same issue one morning. She was at a loss too. It's becoming a less random occurrence in our house, but it seems to last longer when it does happen. I think and hope it's just a faze.

Toddler.

Its a phase.

He seems well rested and has a good routine.

Also Toddlers, cannot yet express themselves, articulately, emotion wise.
So, they may not even know how they feel. Because emotions at this age are not even fully developed yet.

Maybe, try and teach him the names for feelings and how to say it.
I taught my kids that, starting from 2 years old.
Then as time went on, they could tell me 'why' they felt a certain way. In addition to what bugs them. Which to me, it a good 'ability' to have. It being taught to them.

It is a also coping-skills, which a Toddler does not have yet. But it is something that is taught to them, and learned. From the parent.
Some adults, don't even have that ability.

Kids at this age, cannot say precisely how they feel. Just what bugs them. See if he can tell you ie: "I am frustrated." , I am grumpy, I am sad, I am happy, I am irritated etc. Teach him that. A kids emotions, changes at these age junctures.
And for a boy, it is real important that they learn, that they can express feelings too, that they are allowed to... and how to say it.
It is not an automatic ability. It is learned and taught, to them. Or allowed or not.

all the best,
Susan

My 3 year old daughter sometimes does this, and I finally figured out that she had an idea in her head of how our morning should go, but something I did would "ruin" her perfect morning. Now, I talk about everything we are doing and I give her choices. For example, "It's time for you to get dressed. Do you want to help, or do you want mommy to pick out your clothes?" Or, "Jackson wants to go out. Do you want to open the door or should Mommy open the door?"

It usually does the trick. They are trying for a little more independence and autonomy, but still can't figure out what they do or don't have a say in. Small choices help with that need.