Not good when he wakes up

Not sure what to do anymore, but I feel like we just have to deal.

Whenever Mason wakes, either a nap, middle of the night or morning, he's in a bad mood. Takes him a while to get out of it.
He will be 3 in May.
We've tried everything.
He goes to sleep around 8:30ish and gets up screaming just about EVERY night. Crying.
Yelling "Up, Up"
We've tried making a bed on our floor. Worked for a few times and now refuses. DH sometimes has to sleep in his bed with him or he comes into ours.
I was the first one who's totally against that, but both DH and myself WFT. We need our rest too.
When he does go back to sleep he wakes cranky.
Wakes cranky from naps too. Even at daycare. The teacher usually has to hold him for 20 mins or so till he gets out of it.
He doesn't talk, but just whines and wants to be held.
He sees an OT and Speech and we took all their advise, but nothing works.
I'm going to make an appt with a Ped Neurologist too so I'll ask her opinion.

Anyone else deal with something like this? Why it takes him so long to come around?
Definitely more cranky in the afternoon too for a while after his nap.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

I have been reading your posts and my heart goes out to you and especially your little boy. It sounds to me like something is going on with him internally, perhaps his gut ???? Is he showing any signs of digestive issues ?

Perhaps your ds is dealing with some kind of issue that is affecting his neurotransmitters. (which btw, many reside in the gut). There could be some sort of virus or parasites that are causing him to wake.

The banging of the head, the irritability, etc usually means some sort of discomfort.

I know your ds is not diagnosed as being on the spectrum but the book Enzymes for Autism is a really good read.

Perhaps you could seek the help of a naturopath or DAN practioner to see if they can find the cause of your son's discomfort. He sounds like he isn't feeling well, and he is trying to deal.

I have someone I highly recommend but she is on Long Island. If you are interested FM me. She is an OT by day, and a Naturopathic DAN practitioner by night lol She is an incredible resource and excellent support.

ETA, there is a full moon now, so if things are worse that would also make sense. I know it's always been said that people are always a bit "off" during a full moon but parasites reproduce more during that time of month so ...it goes hand in hand. The things you learn when you are a parent

Message edited 3/8/2012 10:02:14 AM.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

I really don't have much advice. My son was exactly like this when he was younger---these days he wakes up happy on the weekends and tired and cranky on weekdays! Afternoon naps he was often irritable for awhile afterwards--he would usually wake crying and even after he calmed down, he was in a funk for a bit.

As he has gotten older, I notice he is not a morning person. Never thought I would be happy to attend late day bday parties, but he's really at his best at these. I think his sensory issues are all worse in the morning, and I do understand because frankly I am in a fog in the morning too.

Again, no advice, I just wanted to offer and let you know that in our case, my son did stop crying as he got older. But I never thought he was possibly uncomfortable, which may have been to blame. I always assumed he just couldn't handle the sensory onslaught while groggy, and maybe that was it too. It's possible he doesn't do this anymore because his sensory issues have gotten much better with OT and sensory play.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

i've been there.. we stopped napping DS and it helped a LOT... at 2.5 i would say DS was done with naps.. he would wake up and scream for hours.. one time it lasted for 4+ hours.. when he finally calmed down he was perfectly fine..

once we stopped napping his waking up from nighttime sleep improved 100%

good luck.. like a PP said, he may also some internal issues going on...

it sucks watching our kids go through these things...

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Posted by AJandCJsMommy

i've been there.. we stopped napping DS and it helped a LOT... at 2.5 i would say DS was done with naps.. he would wake up and scream for hours.. one time it lasted for 4+ hours.. when he finally calmed down he was perfectly fine..

once we stopped napping his waking up from nighttime sleep improved 100%

good luck.. like a PP said, he may also some internal issues going on...

it sucks watching our kids go through these things...

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Thanks all for the replies!
Funny how we come on here with complaints and concerns, but yes... the majority of the time he's a happy and very smart boy. Just has some things holding him back

Again, love all the advise and this board

I do notice if we don't nap him he'll fall asleep better and do a little better in the mornings.
Also another poster wrote about sensory being worse in the mornings. That does make a lot of sense. DH isn't a morning person at all. ALthough as parents you just have to change and have no choice. No clue how the man does it b/c he hates coffee. There's something wrong with him. LOL!
Anyway, not sure about the internal issues, but it's something to look into. He doesn't seem uncomfortable otherwise and has normal BM's. I think with his evals coming up for the Special Ed preschool and waiting for the Ped Neurologist I'll know better. I'll also talk to his Pediatrician as well.
Thanks again.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Posted by KarenK122

Posted by AJandCJsMommy

i've been there.. we stopped napping DS and it helped a LOT... at 2.5 i would say DS was done with naps.. he would wake up and scream for hours.. one time it lasted for 4+ hours.. when he finally calmed down he was perfectly fine..

once we stopped napping his waking up from nighttime sleep improved 100%

good luck.. like a PP said, he may also some internal issues going on...

it sucks watching our kids go through these things...

I agree with the stop napping. DD for years would be the crankiest baby waking up. Scream and yell...wake up in the middle of the night screaming. It was insane. Once the naps stopped she slept better at night and starting waking up better. The screaming at night lasted for at least a year but as she got more language it decreased. Now at 5 she doesn't scream at all and wakes up happy and raring to go lol.

I think language has a lot to do with it and once they learn to communicate better the screaming gets better.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Posted by EricaAlt

Posted by KarenK122

Posted by AJandCJsMommy

i've been there.. we stopped napping DS and it helped a LOT... at 2.5 i would say DS was done with naps.. he would wake up and scream for hours.. one time it lasted for 4+ hours.. when he finally calmed down he was perfectly fine..

once we stopped napping his waking up from nighttime sleep improved 100%

good luck.. like a PP said, he may also some internal issues going on...

it sucks watching our kids go through these things...

I agree with the stop napping. DD for years would be the crankiest baby waking up. Scream and yell...wake up in the middle of the night screaming. It was insane. Once the naps stopped she slept better at night and starting waking up better. The screaming at night lasted for at least a year but as she got more language it decreased. Now at 5 she doesn't scream at all and wakes up happy and raring to go lol.

I think language has a lot to do with it and once they learn to communicate better the screaming gets better.

On weekends I'll cut out the naps. He goes to daycare 4 days a week. I can't ask them not to nap him b/c it's not fair to them so for those 4 days we'll deal.
He wakes up in a funk there as well and the teacher (who goes above for him) holds him for 20 - 30 mins a day after till he's ok

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Just wanted to say I understand. This is Noah too. I literally hodl my breath when he comes out of his room in the morning because he is usually so angry and moddy and cranky. It makes me so sad honestly. I HATE seeing him wake up every day this way.

I wish I had advice. Noahs almost 5 and still this way.

Its like walking on egg shells when he wakes up.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

Posted by dm24angel

Just wanted to say I understand. This is Noah too. I literally hodl my breath when he comes out of his room in the morning because he is usually so angry and moddy and cranky. It makes me so sad honestly. I HATE seeing him wake up every day this way.

I wish I had advice. Noahs almost 5 and still this way.

Its like walking on egg shells when he wakes up.

Re: Not good when he wakes up

DC is 2 1/2 and wakes up 8 out of 10 times cranky. I recently eliminated milk from his diet and for two weeks straight he is more chipper, hardly naps anymore. I personally feel the milk was giving him pains. I don't think it will hurt if you did a food allergy blood test just to see if he is reacting to any of the foods you're giving him. My mom always mentioned to me she thought he had some stomach problems and I agree. He's now drinking coconut milke and LOVES it. Also, I would (which I'm doing now) is not to force naps and try to keep him awake.