My 4 year old child has been waking up in the middle of the night?

Question

every night the past week from a deep sleep crying. When we ask him why he's crying he won't answer. Last night I fell asleep in his bed and at 11pm, he started to whimper and cry out. So I woke up and actually watched him, he was asleep and started to toss and turn and was crying in his sleep. He did not actually wake up until I started to hug him and ask him why he was crying. And once again, he would not answer. We asked him yesterday afternoon why he woke up the night before crying and he said he had a bad dream. This morning we asked him why he woke up crying and he said "no reason".

Do you think this is normal or is there something causing mental anguish at this age? It scares me to death to think the latter.

Answer 1

My 4 year old son does this occasionally also, although only about 2 or 3 times a month. He'll cry, sweat and shake and the only response I can get out of him is usually him just yelling MOMMY! A few times he'll tell me it was a bad dream but doesn't elaborate. I talked to our Dr. at his 4 year check up and she told me that as long as it isn't affecting his daily life or causing him lack of sleep it wasn't anything to worry about and would pass.

SO...I would think if it continues just give the Dr a call :)