The Post-Nap Tantrum

[Aletheia]

Has anyone had a kid who does this?  Both of mine have.  The oldest is now 4.5 and is over them, since he doesn't nap.  But the youngest, 2.5, is full on in this phase.

After almost every nap, he has a melt-down.  It does not seemed tied to any certain circumstances.  Anything can set him off, but I suspect it is sort of a daily "I WANT TO DO IT BY MYSELF BUT I CAN'T" tantrum. He seems to always just be looking for an excuse to have a total flip out session.  He is not like this at other times of the day.  Suggestions?  Commiseration?  Theories?  What the heck is going on here?

[Addie]

This might not be it at all, I'm just throwing it out there -

I've recently started giving DS (14 mo) a snack right after he wakes up from his nap, and it seems to keep him in a better mood. He hasn't done the full-on tantrum after napping, but he does tend to get pretty grumpy in the hour or so after waking. The snack helps. Maybe it's a low blood sugar thing?