What are the reasons why a one and a half year old baby cries in the middle of the night?

Babies will show different states at different age stages. For example, at the beginning, babies will only cry, because they can only convey certain information to their parents through crying. But when the baby is one and a half years old, if the baby also shows symptoms of crying, what is the reason?

Waking up from a nightmare

The baby may wake up from a nightmare if he is frightened during the day, has received a vaccination, has watched scary scenes on TV, is frightened by a barking puppy, has a heavy fall, has been scolded by his parents or caregivers, has fallen off the bed, or has no clear reason. A baby who is awakened by a nightmare usually starts crying loudly suddenly, with his eyes wide open and a look of fear, and he may crawl around or keep trying to get into his mother's arms. Hold your baby tightly in your arms and tell him/her: "Mom is here, Dad is here too, and mom and dad are with you." Don't say, "Don't be afraid, baby." Don't mention the word "afraid," and don't say things like "Mom has chased away the big devil." Just give your baby positive encouragement and comfort to calm him down. For a baby of this age, if the mother says don't be afraid, the word "afraid" will deepen the baby's fear. Therefore, it is better to use positive language than negative language.

Dependence on mother

The baby who no longer feeds on the mother's nipple at night suddenly wakes up in the middle of the night to ask for milk. If the mother does not meet the baby's needs, the baby will cry loudly, and this may last for several days or even weeks. Mothers don't need to be surprised; it is normal for children to "regress" as they grow older.

Babies at this stage are at the intersection where independence and dependence coexist. On the one hand, the baby seeks independence and no longer lets the mother control him like in infancy; on the other hand, he develops a strong sense of dependence. This strong sense of dependence is a manifestation of the baby's pursuit of security during his growth. As the baby grows older, his sense of security will become stronger and his dependence will become weaker, and he will no longer be so dependent on his mother. If your baby can fall asleep quickly after giving him a few sips of milk, then you should just do it. There is nothing wrong with it and don't be afraid of being laughed at by others. This is a matter between you and your child.

Stomachache

Babies may have stomachaches because they eat too much before going to bed, or eat something wrong during the day. Abnormal gastrointestinal motility may wake the baby from a deep sleep, and the first reaction after waking up is crying.

When the baby has a stomachache, he will suddenly cry in his sleep, often with his eyes closed, his legs curled up, his waist arched, his butt sticking out, or his hands covering his stomach. Even a baby who can talk will only tell his mother by crying when he wakes up in the middle of the night due to stomachache. The mother thought that the baby might have a stomachache, so she would rub the baby's stomach. It would be fine if she didn't rub it, but the baby would cry even louder after rubbing it. This is because when the baby has stomach pain, the intestinal tract is in a state of spasm or bloating. When the mother stimulates the abdomen with her hands, it will aggravate the baby's pain.

Mothers often have an intuitive ability to judge their babies and can quickly determine that the baby may be sick or definitely not sick and is just playing tricks. This mother's intuition is accurate most of the time. So, if you don't know why your baby is crying, if you think your baby has a stomachache and the pain is severe, you should see a doctor immediately, because babies aged one or two are also likely to develop intussusception, just like infants. If you feel there is nothing wrong with your baby, there is no need to take your baby who is crying at night to the hospital. If it is very cold at night, the baby may catch a cold or have a fever after all this tossing and turning, which is not worth it.

Bad environment

In early childhood, there are fewer children crying because the environment is too hot, too cold, too dry, or too stuffy, but it is not always like this. If it is a hot summer night with low air pressure, the baby may not sleep well and cry. Parents will also feel uncomfortable at this time. If they improve the sleeping environment, the baby will fall asleep peacefully.

The above are the reasons why a one and a half year old baby cries in the middle of the night. If it is not due to physical conditions, it is very likely that the baby lacks a sense of security and has a certain degree of dependence on the mother. This situation is very common. At about one and a half years old, the baby has a certain understanding of both father and mother, so usually he is dependent on his mother, so he needs his mother's care.