Have you ever woken in the middle of the night to your toddler’s cries, only to discover by the time you’ve run to check on them that they are back asleep? If so, you’re not alone. If your typical happy-go-lucky toddler is suddenly crying out in their sleep, it may make parents worried that something may be wrong. As if toddler behavior isn’t difficult enough to figure out when they’re awake, parents need to know why toddlers cry in their sleep.
The good news is that toddlers crying in their sleep is a normal part of their development and doesn’t mean there’s anything troubling your child that you should be concerned about. In fact, this behavior has a variety of different causes. Learn some of the reasons why toddlers cry in their sleep and if there’s anything to do to help prevent it, so everyone gets a good night’s sleep.
Sleep patterns could be off
- Ensure the same bedtime routine happens every night
Because babies and toddlers are still growing and developing at a fast rate, they haven’t yet developed a consistent sleep pattern. In some cases, when babies or toddlers cry out in their sleep, it’s simply an indication of them transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next. If this is the case, they will more than likely settle down on their own.
Parents magazine also notes that toddlers crying in their sleep is almost the same as if children were to talk in their sleep. This is typically nothing to worry about, but being overtired brings it on, so they suggest ensuring there is a consistent bedtime that allows for ample rest.
Nightmares and night terrors make things scary
Sleep specialist Rafael Pelayo, MD, an associate professor of sleep medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, explained to WebMD that parents may need to consider nightmares or night terrors as the reason for their children crying out in their sleep.
“The first thing you can do is to look for any physical problems that may be disturbing their sleep,” Pelayo suggests to parents who are dealing with this. “If there doesn’t seem to be anything physical causing them to wake and stir,” he says, “then it’s time to talk about the nightmares. Tell them that they are always safe and that nightmares and dreams are like paintings and drawings, meaning that they can paint a nice picture or scary picture.”
Night terrors may be more disturbing for a toddler. “Night or sleep terrors are not nightmares,” Pelayo added. Children will have no memory of a night terror, while they will often remember a nightmare and wake to realize that it wasn’t real. KidsHealth writes that toddlers who have experienced night terrors are sometimes overtired, ill, stressed, taking a new medicine, sleeping in a new environment or away from home, not getting enough sleep, or having too much caffeine.
If you think your child is experiencing night terrors, experts suggest not trying to wake your child, but simply waiting it out while ensuring their safety. Cadence Education does note that sleep regression is common around 2 years of age, so sleep disruptions are often not something to worry about.
The sleeping conditions need to be just right
Sometimes toddlers cry in their sleep for any number of reasons, but one is because they are like Goldilocks, and those sleeping conditions need to be just right. We all have our preferences for temperature at night, and toddlers are even pickier.
Being too hot or too cold also does the trick. Checking the room temperature and dressing the toddler appropriately may stop them from waking in those circumstances. Overstimulation also causes a child to cry during sleep, so creating a soothing and calm sleep environment is key.
Check your toddler out, tummy to bottom
- Are they fed?
- Are they dry?
- Are they going through a growth spurt?
A toddler may cry during the night if they are hungry, which happens if they’re going through a growth spurt or simply decided to not eat much during that day. We aren’t saying have a midnight feast with your toddler, but that they need more calories during the day.
The growing pains that come with growth spurts are no joke, and a spasm would wake your toddler up in an instant, and just as quickly stop, sending them right back to sleep. Try gentle massages on their legs and arms before bed to ease their discomfort.
A soiled diaper may also cause a toddler to cry in their sleep, simply out of discomfort. Who wants to sleep in a wet diaper? A quick change will send your little one right back to bed.
What parents should keep in mind
- It’s all about the night routine
- Keep bedtime consistent
If your toddler cries during sleep, you could always check on them to ensure they are safe. However, if you think your child is experiencing night terrors, repeatedly crying out in their sleep, you haven’t been able to determine a cause for it, fear they may be in pain, or the sleep issues are affecting how your tot functions during the day, it may be time to contact your doctor. A sleep study could be done on children who are experiencing continued disruption of their sleep.
Parents want to reinforce healthy sleep habits and a healthy sleep routine by eliminating stress before bedtime, having a consistent bedtime routine, and being consistent with how they respond when their child cries.
Proper sleep is so important, not only for growing and developing toddlers but for parents who are on the go all day as well. If your toddler cries in their sleep, it’s not usually something to be worried about, but it’s important to know the ins and outs behind the behavior so each parent is able to react accordingly. And so the whole house gets their beauty rest.
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