Why does my toddler wake up screaming at 2am?

A toddler waking up screaming around 2 a.m. is often due to night terrors, nightmares, or discomfort/illness.

• Night terrors: Your child may scream or thrash but seem not fully awake and may not remember it later. Keep them safe, stay calm, and don’t try to force them awake.
• Nightmares: Your child wakes fully awake, scared, and usually wants comfort. Reassure them, comfort them, and help them settle back down.
• Pain or illness: Ear infection, teething, fever, congestion, constipation, or other discomfort can wake a toddler screaming. Check for fever, pain, or breathing trouble.

To reduce wake-ups, keep a consistent bedtime routine, use a calm wind-down, and avoid an overtired bedtime.

Get medical help sooner if there’s snoring, gasping, mouth-breathing, pauses in breathing, fever, significant pain, or if episodes are frequent, severe, or getting worse.