20 month old waking up at night?

Sarah • IVF Momma 🤍 Angel Momma🤍

My daughter has suddenly started waking up, not every night but a few times the last couple of weeks. She’s typically a great sleeper and on a good schedule. She sleeps roughly 8pm- 7am give or take a half hour. And she naps from about 12- 1:30/2pm. She has woken up in the middle of the night before, but she usually just messes around, finds her binky and falls back asleep on her own. No fussing. She is in her own room/crib. So she wakes up almost screaming crying, jumping up and down. And I cannot do cry it out. Is there a leap at this age, or nightmares?? The thing is is she doesn’t go back to sleep when she does this. It’s like she’s wide awake. Happened last night and I ended up putting her in bed with me, which I know prob shouldn’t, she laid there laughing, giggling, clapping her hands, she dozed off for a few and then would be messing around again. It’s exhausting when she’s been such a good sleeper. I try to keep her active and do activities, at first I thought it was because she’s bored or whatnot during the day and needed to get out. But yesterday we were outside on and off all day since it was nice, thought for sure she would be wore out... I’m sure it’s all normal... but what gives??!😩 Maybe something developmental? And how did you handle it? Thank you.