Question
Why does my baby easily get startled and wake up during naptime?
Answer
Babies may be startled awake during their nap due to a lack of certain trace elements, such as calcium or zinc, or because of overheating, undercooling, overeating, indigestion, or because they are too full, causing discomfort in deep sleep. It’s recommended to maintain a quiet environment and give the baby some time; they usually fall back asleep within a few minutes. If the baby continues to cry, parents should go to comfort them but should not turn on the lights, play with them, pick them up, or shake them.