It can be really exhausting when your sleep-master baby suddenly becomes a constant screamer in the night. (And, sadly, toddlers don’t come fitted with a snooze button.)
Most toddlers are not equipped with enough words to clearly express their needs. There are several reasons your toddler may be screaming at night.
Illness or infection: Pain or discomfort is often most prominent at night when your child’s body finally slows down.
Discomfort: Being too hot, too cold, or even just itchy can be enough to set off your child when they’re tired.
Separation anxiety: Toddlers are very aware of your presence — or lack of presence — and may suddenly feel afraid of going to sleep or waking up alone (source).
Night terrors: Although these frightening experiences generally begin around age three, some children experience them as early as eighteen months (source).
Teething: Toddlers are continually growing new teeth. Teething pain can wake them in the night or prevent them from falling asleep when they’re tired.
If you’re able to recognize the cause of the screaming, you can work on a solution. But if your toddler’s nighttime screaming remains a mystery, contact your pediatrician to rule out any less obvious causes.