Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

DH and I were minding his sister's baby over the weekend. The baby is 8 months old. I see him about once a week and pay him a lot of attention, so it's at the point where I feel he recognizes me and smiles when I come in.

Everything was going fine. His mom left, we were playing, no problems. Then he got a bit fussy so I put him in the stroller, went for a walk, as suggested. He was out like a light in 2 minutes.

Woke up about 30-40 minutes later and he seemed SO confused, as if he'd never seen me and DH before-- and he was crying this utterly PANICKED cry. I was taking him around the house showing him his toys, trying to feed him to see if he was crying out of hunger, rubbing his back, singing to him, speaking soothingly, etc, nothing worked.

I mean, obviously he wanted his mom, but I really got the impression that he was disoriented and looking at us as if we were strangers.

I later found out that the same thing happened after he took a nap at his Nana's house and he sees her ALL of the time--but he seemed to be screaming in TERROR when he woke up at her house.

Is this common for this age (8 months)? Chalk it up to just wanting Mommy or maybe a "bad dream"?

He was so peaceful before the nap...so I guess that's what's perplexing me is that he seemed to have no recall that we were there before the nap.

Wondering if you've had similar experiences?

ETA: not just general crankiness after a nap....but experiences where the baby has seemed disoriented, esp if you left him with a sitter that he/she was familiar with...


TIA.

Message edited 7/2/2007 11:08:50 AM.

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

Soemtimes DS wakes up cranky pants and I just hold him close until he calms down.

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

I have to say that Cailen has done that with me sometimes - especially if he wakes up somewhere he has never been before, or just in a place that isn't home (like at my parent's house) - so, even with me there, he does seem a bit out of sorts....

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

Sometimes DS wakes up all smiles and sometimes he wakes up with his arms shaking and he looks nervous/scarred I just comfort him till he calms down.

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

Steven is about the same age, and recently he has been doing this. He wakes up from the nap crying and it is difficult to console him. When he gets up for the morning, he NEVER cries, so it's really weird for him. I'm guessing it's common, and usually he is OK in about 5 or 10 minutes.

ETS: I wanted to clarify that this happens at home and at my moms house. Lilke he looks around and then starts to panic. I find that if I leave him be when he gets up, even if he is crying a little, I let him wake up more, then I pick him up.

Message edited 7/2/2007 11:20:36 AM.

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

Most likely, he woke up and wanted mommy. 8 months is a good age for "panicking" when mom isn't around. I remember babysitting a baby that I was constantly around and yet she would freak out when it was just the 2 of us. As soon as her mom returned, .

Re: Question about baby confusion/disorientation after nap?

Thanks for all of the replies! I had felt so bad that he was so nervous and panicky.