Wondering why your baby wakes up crying or screaming? You’re not alone. Babies wake up this way for a variety of reasons, some obvious, some surprising. In this article, we’ll explore the most common causes and share practical tips to help your baby settle and sleep more peacefully.
Could Hunger Cause Baby to Wake Up Crying or Screaming?
Well, for starters, your baby may obviously wake up crying sometimes due to the need to eat. (Hunger is a powerful motivator!) Babies eat at night for at least 4-6 months and longer if they are breastfeeding. For some babies, the feeling of hunger is intense and they cry intensely until they are fed.
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Could Discomfort Be Causing Your Baby to Wake Up Crying?
Additionally, your baby may wake up screaming due to a wet or dirty (or leaky) diaper or may wake up because they are too hot or cold. These are all perfectly reasonable reasons for a baby to wake up. And they’re all reasons that the parents need to address, either by feeding or changing the baby.
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Can an Overtired or Off Schedule Baby Wake Up Crying or Screaming?
One thing that might make your baby wake up screaming is because they are on the wrong schedule. A baby’s schedule should have the appropriate wake windows. If your baby’s wake windows are too long, that tends to cause frequent waking and crying hysterically between sleep cycles.
For some children, waking up crying is a sign that they aren’t really done sleeping yet, and need more rest. We suspect this has something to do with temperament. Some babies might wake too early from sleep and be fairly quiet and content, others will just wail. This was the case for me. With my firstborn, if he woke up crying, 90% of the time it usually meant that he was not done sleeping. He may have awakened in-between sleep cycles and had trouble going into the next one.
In these cases, it’s sometimes best to wait a minute or two when you hear crying that you suspect is just waking between sleep cycles. Sometimes, your baby will go right back to sleep. Or, even if you ultimately go in to comfort your baby, you’ll know that the goal should be to help baby get back to sleep because they aren’t fully rested yet.
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Do Sleep Associations Cause Babies to Wake Up Crying?
A bit less straightforward reason for babies waking up screaming is the fact that many babies wake up due to their sleep associations. Some sleep associations are pretty straightforward causes of crying upon waking. For example, if your baby’s pacifier falls out, they may very well be pretty frustrated that they can’t put it back in, and that may lead to tears!
But some other sleep associations are less easy to spot as the cause of crying upon waking. If you normally rock or feed your baby to sleep, they may cry when they wake up because they are no longer moving and/or sucking. Similarly, if you typically hold your baby for sleep, they may cry if they wake up in their crib and are no longer being held.
Is It Normal for Babies to Wake Up Crying Between Sleep Cycles?
We all wake up briefly between sleep cycles from time to time. Our babies are no different.
Sometimes, your baby may wake slightly and cry between sleep cycles. This is often the cause of those weird 2-minute crying spells that you sometimes might hear in the middle of the night, or during a nap. At these times, you hear a cry but by the time you’re up and moving toward the baby, they have already fallen back to sleep. The cause is just a brief waking during sleep cycles that happen to be accompanied by some fussing. These are called “confusional events.”
What If Your Baby Wakes Up Crying and Nothing Seems to Help?
Sometimes babies (and toddlers) wake up crying even when they are well-rested, fed, and comfortable. Some babies simply need more time to fully wake up. You might notice your baby wakes from a long nap or a full night of sleep, but still cries intensely for a few minutes.
In these situations, it may help to:
- Offer quiet comfort like cuddling or gentle talking
- Give your baby a few minutes to fully wake before assuming something is wrong
- Offer a feeding, snack (if age-appropriate), or comfort item if it fits your routine
Some babies naturally wake up more slowly than others. Temperament plays a role, and some babies simply express transitions between sleep and wakefulness more loudly.
If your baby frequently wakes crying and you can’t identify an obvious need, it can help to step back and look at the bigger picture. This picture includes the schedule, total sleep, and how your baby falls asleep at the start of sleep periods. These clues often help you identify patterns and decide whether changes might help reduce crying over time. For more intense waking in older babies, check out why your 1 year old wakes up crying hysterically, which covers separation anxiety, teething, and developmental leaps.
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When to Talk to Your Pediatrician About Baby Crying in Sleep
Most babies will cry or fuss in their sleep at times, and it’s often related to normal sleep cycles, hunger, or temporary discomfort. However, there are times when it’s a good idea to check with your pediatrician.
Consider contacting your baby’s doctor if you notice:
- Crying that sounds very different from your baby’s normal cry
- Signs of illness such as fever, vomiting, rash, or congestion
- Sudden major changes in sleep patterns
- Crying that is high-pitched, prolonged, or inconsolable
- Poor feeding or unusual sleepiness during the day
- Crying that seems related to pain or medical discomfort
Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it’s always okay to check with your healthcare provider for reassurance and guidance.
Baby Wakes Up Crying or Screaming FAQs
Babies often cry briefly during sleep transitions between sleep cycles. If your baby settles back to sleep within a few minutes and seems comfortable otherwise, this is usually normal and not a cause for concern.
Babies may wake up crying due to hunger, discomfort, overtiredness, sleep associations, or normal sleep cycle transitions. Looking at your baby’s schedule, feeding needs, and sleep habits can help identify the most likely cause.
Some babies wake up crying or screaming from naps when they wake between sleep cycles or are still overtired. Adjusting wake windows and ensuring your baby knows how to fall asleep on their own can often help eliminate or reduce these wakings.
Understanding Why Your Baby Wakes Up Crying or Screaming
If your baby wakes up crying or screaming, it’s usually their way of communicating a need. That could mean hunger, comfort, help falling back asleep, or simply needing a little more rest. Consistent routines, an age-appropriate schedule, and healthy sleep habits can all help reduce nighttime crying over time.
If you’re ever unsure, trust your instincts. You know your baby best, and it’s always okay to seek support if you’re concerned about your baby’s sleep or overall well-being. While baby crying in sleep can feel stressful in the moment, it is very common and often improves as babies grow and develop more mature sleep patterns.
