Do you have a toddler who wakes up grumpy from their naps? I do! Hudson is currently 15 months, and there are days where he wakes up absolutely miserable, from his afternoon nap. With him, it only happens with his afternoon nap. In the mornings he always wakes up happy – and even his morning nap he is his normal happy self. However, afternoon naps … watch out!
I have been on a mission to figure out how to help my little one. It tends to be stressful for everyone, and can quickly ruin the afternoon and early evening. So here are my tips on turning my grump toddler into his happy self.
- Know the warning signs!
I watch Hudson on his monitor while he naps. (it sits next to me on my desk). If he wakes up – sits up – and starts “chatting” OR if he sits up and then lays back down – sits up and lays back down, then I know I do not have to worry about him being grump. However, if he wakes up – stands up and starts yelling MAMA or just stands up and starts crying, I know that I need to follow the steps below, because he is grumpy!
When your toddler wakes up grumpy:
- Don’t go in empty handed!
When Hudson wakes up grumpy, I like to go into his room with his sippy cup of milk, and maybe a small snack (Cheese, some blueberries, banana, or cheerios). After a nap, a little one can experience the effects of low blood sugar, and the drink and snack is the quickest way to perk them up. - Quiet Time!
I like to have a few minutes where Hudson and I just sit in the rocking chair with his blanket, while he drinks his milk and has his snack. We just sit and rock while he “wakes” up. After a few minutes he will climb down and just start playing naturally.
Where as, if I had picked him up from the crib and just tossed him into the chaos of our normal day he would be miserable for hours. - Bath!
On the rare occasion that the above does not work – give them a bath! I have never met a child that does not perk up after having a bubble bath. - Routine!
Create a calming “easy” 10-15 minute wake-up routine. Kids thrive on routines, and this might be just what they need! It can look like: Wake Up – Drink & Snack while rocking – Cuddles – Reading a few books.
If you find that your child is waking up grumpy more often then not. You might need to start digging into the reasons why. You may want to even let your pediatrician know at their next check-up. In the meantime look into the following items that might be the underlying cause:
- Still Tired.
Try putting them to sleep a little earlier. Your little one might be waking up grumpy, because they are not fully rested! I also swear by blackout curtains, they help block out the natural sunlight allowing your baby the ability to get a better rest. - Check room temperature.
Is the room too warm or too hot? Thankfully our monitor tells us the room temperature – and even alerts us if the room becomes too warm. - Comfort.
If the air is dry it can cause discomfort – causing your little one to wake up before they are fully ready to. Try adding a humidifier to the bedroom! Also, make sure you are laying them down to sleep with comfortable / breathable clothing and always with a clean diaper!
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