My daughter is 20 months old now and she has started throwing tantrums after naptime. I don’t know why this has started but it is just another joy of parenthood, I guess. She does it every single time she wakes up from her nap but when she wakes up in the morning, she is happy as can be. I’ve looked online and apparently, this is pretty common but not something a lot of people warn you about.
A lot of people have different methods for dealing with tantrums after naptime. Some things have worked for me and some haven’t. I tried ignoring her and just letting her throw a fit but it would go on for almost an hour! She has also started hitting herself when she is upset so I have to calm her down so she doesn’t hurt herself. I still struggle with this issue but here are some things that you can try and see if they help calm your toddler if they throw tantrums after naptime.
- Ignore them and let them throw a fit. This didn’t work for me but some parents say it has for them.
- Have a snack or sippy cup ready for them. My daughter won’t take them right away but she will see them and start calming down. She will eventually pick them up and start eating after a few minutes. This has helped a lot.
- Have a favorite TV show or movie playing so they can focus on that for a little while. Mine loves Mother Goose Club that is on Netflix, I highly recommend it.
- While they are throwing a fit, sit down and do something they like to do like coloring, looking through a book, or playing with a toy. They may see that you are having fun and want to come over to join you.
- Take them outside. My daughter loves being outside, it seems to distract her and she usually calms down. I will just hold her and we’ll watch the trees blow in the wind or see what the dogs are up to.
- Sit in a chair and read a book together. This has helped, too. I think it gives her a little more quiet time so that she can rock and continue to fully wake up.
These are the most successful things I have tried. Reading some of the other parent’s comments, this is just a phase and she will grow out of it. I really hope so! If you are struggling with tantrums after naptime, I would love to hear how you handle it. What are some methods you use to calm down your little one?
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