Screaming When He Wakes up from Naps!! 10Months Old

Hi D.,
IMO, YES if he's crying like he's being skinned alive, pick him up and soothe him. What you did-pick him up, soothe and lay back down sounds perfect.
By picking up your son when he's upset, you're teaching him that you can be counted on to meet his needs. You are teaching him to trust you.
You can read his cues-just trust your instincts! You sound like you know what you're doing!
I think there's too much emphasis put on this fear that babies will become manipulative crybabies if we pick them up too much. I say Pick them up, love them up and move on!
Take heart mama! This too shall pass!
E.

Is he hungry? Maybe this is a "growth spurt" time, and at these developmental changes, they wake more, and get hungrier more AND more often.

(Sorry I misread his age :). I would not do the cry it out method. But that's just me. BUT... going in periodically and picking him up, then soothing him...then comforting him and laying back down is reasonable. Many times, their REM sleep gets interrupted too... so they are not yet "ready" to wake up per say, but need help in going back to sleep. And yes, this sleep interruption can make them cry as it throws them off.

There is also something called "night terrors" (it does not happen only at night). Here are a couple links on it:
http://www.babycenter.com/400_can-night-terrors-happen-to...
http://www.parentsleague.org/review_articles/ratner.html
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/growth/sleep/terrors.html
http://www.babycenter.com/0_night-terrors_142.bc

BUT night terrors does not usually start until a baby/child is older. Just something to look out for. It is normal. Both my kids went through that from about 1 years old. I read somewhere that is can start at 9 months old.

Sometimes, if they are hungry and not getting enough intake, they are fussier.

Growth spurts occur about every 3 months, give or take. It does and CAN interfere with their "normal" sleep/nap abilities as they are changing so much. They can't help it, it's a natural progression and change for them. If this is what is wrong with him, it is a phase. It WILL pass. But in the meantime, KEEP to his usual sleep/nap times and routines. Then, when the phase passes, it should go back to normal.

You cannot spoil a baby. If he needs comfort and is distressed, comfort him. Babies "learn" by routine and repetition... whatever method you use. It takes time... so be patient.

It can also be teething, or gas, constipation... Sometimes colic does not even emerge until about now. There are various things that can occur making them act this way, and sometimes it can be several things going on at the same time. So keep that in mind too.

If he is crying like that, I personally would not leave him there endlessly to cry. (I know you're not) Basically, crying it out works because crying so much tires a baby out... and so then they pass out. Then they "learn" Mommy won't come and save them. So then they give up. But, being your baby is only 3 months, don't just leave him crying endlessly. They need to learn that they can "trust" Mommy and their needs will be met.

At least he sleeps through the night. But as a baby changes...through periodic growth spurts, this will cause a bump in their sleep habits. It will not only happen once in their lives... but many times throughout their growth/cognitive changes too. Head's up. LOL.

It is not always the Parent that is "creating" a "monster." Sometimes babies cry, and we don't know the reason. It's perfectly okay to pick him up, if he is crying or is distressed.

I think he is just going through growing "pains" and a growth spurt... developmentally and cognitively they change at these spurts. His intake also probably will increase and he may need to feed more often or more.

I know it's not easy... my boy is going through growth changes now too.. and he is fussier lately. But I know it is temporary. He also has some molars coming in, and he's been hungrier... so lots of things going on at the SAME time. It's not easy for a baby/child either... its a lot for them to adjust too.

Keep a journal and write about him... it'll be a great souvenir for later when he grows up. Babies change so much, so quickly, and one day, in a blink of an eye, they will no longer be babies. I've been keeping a journal for both my kids since the day they were born. It's so sentimental and fun.

All the best and good luck!
~Susan

I say respond to his needs. I never let my kids who are now 3 and 5 cry like that. I responded to everything and it didn't create monsters. For me, it just wouldn't feel right to not respond.

Congratulations on your new addition!
M.

D.,
I have a 15 month old now, but when she was 8 month old she started doing the same thing. I spoke to the pediatrician who told me that it is similar to night terrors that toddlers get and is normal. He told me to just cuddle and hold her until it stopped. It must of worked. She no longer wakes up screaming. Good luck!

I too had nap issues with my daughter (she's now 10 months and much better). Go to Barnes and Nobles, sit down and skim through the sleep books in the baby section, and try to pick the ideas that best go along with what your parenting style is. I borrowed ideas from the Baby Whisper and Sleeping Through the Night. Both were a pretty gentle, yet structured approach. This is still the stage you want to make sure they know they are safe. Especially because he has only been in that environment for 3 months. Good luck!

I think that, because you adopted and missed out of the first months of bonding, it is essential that you go to him. He needs to develop trust in you, and this can take longer than three months. In fact, the recent crying may be in response to his trust developing. It's hard to tell with such little information, but look for a book that includes information on adopted children- I think the Baby Whisperer might, although now I think I'm confusing it with the infant massage book. But his needs are different than those of other infants, at least for the time being.

Another suggestion, try dropping to one nap a day. I did this at around 10 months with Izzy- she was taking naps at 10a and 2p, and I changed it to one nap between 11:30 and 12, and she slept much longer and was generally more happy. But it's not easy to change a baby's schedule.

I don't believe in total cry it out, but there are times when kids need to be left to cry. As parents we should be able to tell the difference between the cry (and by knowing the difference I don't mean reacting emotionally to every cry like some moms do).

I haven't read the Nanny's book yet, but I think when a 10 month old is screaming, he needs attention. You can never love a kid too much. Remember, his methods of communication are very limited.

My son did this too. We were told that he was waking up at the end of one of his sleep cycles, but that he should still go back to sleep if he seemed tired. I read from Dr. Jodi Mindell (I think) that if they fall asleep originally on their own, go ahead and get them back to sleep in other methods than crying it out. At first I would pick my son up, cradle and swing him in my arms, and shhh the whole time until he was calmed down and could go back to sleep. Later we were able to just go in and rub his back and shhh until he fell back asleep. Once he stopped waking up so abruptly at the end of his sleep cycles, his naps extended. We went forever with him only taking 45 minute naps because we just didn't know what to do! Since then we've realized that the only times he wakes up crying like that are when he's at the end of a cycle or there's a loud noise. When he's had plenty of rest, all we here is chitter chatter when he wakes up. I wish you all the best with your little one.