2 year old wakes from nap screaming

[Grivas]

My dd is just over 2 years old, and has been having some toddler tantrums, lately. I can cope with those, and can avert them if I'm paying attention. There is this other fit, though, that is leaving me mystified and sad. A few days a week, she'll wake from her nap in a hysterical tantrum. I wouldn't even say temper tantrum, though, because there was nothing to make her mad. She just wakes up this way. She screams, kicks, rolls around, won't be held, and basically seems like she doesn't even know us. This goes on, with me just clearing dangerous stuff out of the way and trying to get her out of it, for at least 30 minutes. It has gone on almost an hour. When she comes out of it, it's because I was able to distract her with a snack or something that gets her attention (today it was a tractor ride with Grandpa).

My questions: has anyone else experienced this? How do you best cope with this and calm the child? I'm seriously considering foregoing naps, although she needs them, because I'm afraid she'll wake up this way.

Thanks for the help!

[SheepNumber97245]

Sometimes my two year old wakes up from naps crying and it continues for some time. Today he had a major fit after waking up from his nap. I think it's a combination of two things: 1. they don't want to wake up and they're still tired, and 2. they might be hungry. Usually when i get him something to eat right away after his nap he snaps out of it. Try having a snack already prepared for her and see if that helps.

[LDSmomma]

Could it be a nightmare? I think hormones can lead to increased nightmares, so perhaps there's some growth spurt or something causing frequent nightmares??

DS cries every time he wakes up. Every. Time. But, as soon as he finds me (even if I'm just in bed next to him), he nurses & he's fine.

[Grivas]

Thanks! Food definitely helps. If I can get her to snap out of it enough to eat something, I can usually end the episode.

[tylerdylan]

My DS1 used to do this too. He was waking up in the mornings fine and happy, but from naps he always woke up screaming and it too would go on 30-60 minutes. I found that since I wasn't helping to snap him out of it and after months and months of it I was losing my mind that I would just put him on the couch, turn on the tv and walk away from him. He'd calm himself down sooner this way and return to normal. Not a great solution, but it worked. Food never worked for us, not even a special treat of something he loved.

[Thalia]

Sounds like night terrors, which are common in 2 year olds. DD has them but only at night. Apparently being overtired can trigger them.