Super bad mood after nap....HELP!!! or earplugs!!!!

[momminluv]

DD#2 is turning 2 in about 2 weeks.  Lately when she wakes from her afternoon nap she goes into tantrum mode.  Happily, I am on zoloft, otherwise I'd probably throw myself off a cliff.  Anyway, she just howls at the top of her lungs for about half an hour to 45 mins.  She knows many words and even sentences and is capable of telling me what it is that she needs.  But, this after nap tantrum thing is driving me crazy.  She won't tell me what is bothering her.....hungry? diaper change? more alone time in her crib after waking?  I just don't get it?! She wants to rock in the rocking chair with me....but she'd rather stay in her crib and howl.     She wants me to hold her....but she doesn't want me to hold her.     She wants milk.....but she'd rather have a yogurt instead.     She wants to go upstairs......but when I head upstairs, she decides she wants to stay downstairs.     Nothing I am doing is right for her.  Has anyone else experienced this?  It's become annoying for everyone.  My older DD just stares at my younger DD like, what's your problem?  I'm frustrated with having to deal with this every afternoon. 

[Erin M]

My dd is like that when she is still tired at the end of her nap.  My nephew is always like that, some kids just do not wake up at all.  I know when I hear my dd crying at the end of her nap I come in super cheerful and say something like, "Hi, I see you had a good nap, let's get you out of your bed" - usually then we read books and rock in her chair a bit with her lovey until she snaps out of it.  Maybe kind of like a post-nap routine?  Also I find that listening to music or watching TV works pretty well too - activities that they can be really mellow during and it gives them a chance to wake up.

HTH!

[Luisasmum]

Grumpy riser, eh? Same here! I've got two of them; a 37 year old and a 2 year old! With my just turned 2yo dd, I try and talk to her about something as soon as I walk in to her room. For example, if we are going to nona's house for dinner then I'll ask her questions about that, or I tell her that I saw a big kookaburra in the tree outside her window and if she comes quickly she might see him too. Going to the mail box is also a good one. It's hard to get through to her though if she's in full swing - you've gotta get in quick before she has the chance to chuck a tantie. If she's too far gone and nothing is working I just walk away and let her sort herself out . Must be a two year old thing. Maybe something to do with not being able to understand their emotions?

Anyone got any advice on what I should do with my grumpy riser husband???

[mari]

This happens with Alex and the child that I care for.  I just quietly sit and cuddle until they come round.  Sometimes Alex tries to push me away when I take her from the ot so I say 'ok, you stay there and call me when you are ready for a cuddle'  She calls straight away as she doesn't want me to leave, then we go down and sit on the sofa and have a cuddle for about 5 minutes.  It's a nightmare when they wake together and theyboth want a cuddle, they won't share me at this time!!!