STM+ talk to me about night terrors!

[playlawook]

My 1.5 year old just woke up and was nearly inconsolable for 30 minutes. This is totally out of character for him. We did just get back from a weekend away where he stayed with grandma so he could totally just be thrown off. But it really freaked me out.

He woke up hysterically crying and after it was obvious he wasn't just going to fall back asleep after a few whimpers like he normally does, I went up stairs and picked him up. He was still lying down but totally stiff and unresponsive to my touch. It seemed like he wasn't registering that I was there, maybe he was still asleep?

It took me like 30 minutes but he finally calmed down and seemed to wake up, I put him back down and he seems to be asleep now.

Sorry this is so long but I am just wondering those of you who have experience does this sound like night terrors? It seriously seemed like he was possessed, with his stiff movements and general unresponsiveness to me, which obviously freaked me out...

[playlawook]

Jan 26, 2015 21:13:21 GMT -5 harper said:

No experience, but I read an article once that said you shouldn't try to wake them. Also, not sure how true this is but that they often occur due to being overtired.

He totally was over tired today. He got a crappy nap and grandma isn't known for following our sleep schedule, so this probably comes after a weekend of late bedtimes and not so good naps. I have heard about not waking then... But there's no way I could leave him crying like he was :/

[cwbandthenewbie]

So we dealt with night terrors a few times around that age and like you, I ran in DS1s room and scooped him up right away. What I read though, was that when they're having night terrors, they're still asleep so it's best not to wake them (um, sounds really impossible to me), because waking them only prolongs the stress, whereas a night terror would just die down on its own. Nightmares on the other hand will actually carry over to being awake, so they will wake up on their own.

We don't deal with these much, thank goodness. I don't know how I would not be able to hold him in the middle of a night terror.

[issytex03]

I had similar last night with DD she woke up screaming help and there were snakes in her room i probably do the completely wrong thing but if shes really sad ill put her in our bed until shes calmed down and is snoozing again as otherwise she will wake up over and over throughout the night. I keep having to remind myself shes still little she does so much that 3+ year olds do but shes only 2

[playlawook]

Ok thanks guys! Like I was thinking there was something seriously wrong with him, I was looking at my husband like... Um is he okay?! Do we need to do something about this?! So anyway he went back to sleep and is still snoozing so at least he got a good nights sleep.

For you FTMs... There is nothing more disturbing than hearing your baby screaming like that, like they are really scared! My heart was in my stomach until he finally settled down. So much love for that little guy.

[mrsh288]

We dealt with these a lot and still do. As much as you want to, there's really nothing you can do other than wait it out. They're really disoriented and inconsolable at that point. Just try to keep your cool (my h would just get frustrated when nothing calmed LO) and hopefully they will be done soon!

[playlawook]

Jan 27, 2015 9:48:16 GMT -5 mrsh288 said:

We dealt with these a lot and still do. As much as you want to, there's really nothing you can do other than wait it out. They're really disoriented and inconsolable at that point. Just try to keep your cool (my h would just get frustrated when nothing calmed LO) and hopefully they will be done soon!

Do you go in there and console or do you just leave them in there alone? My question is because he actually didn't even register that I was there so I wonder if it was more hindrance than help to get him back to sleep. And how long do the episodes last if you just leave them in there?

[mrsh288]

Jan 27, 2015 10:43:37 GMT -5 playlawook said:

Jan 27, 2015 9:48:16 GMT -5 mrsh288 said:

We dealt with these a lot and still do. As much as you want to, there's really nothing you can do other than wait it out. They're really disoriented and inconsolable at that point. Just try to keep your cool (my h would just get frustrated when nothing calmed LO) and hopefully they will be done soon!

Do you go in there and console or do you just leave them in there alone? My question is because he actually didn't even register that I was there so I wonder if it was more hindrance than help to get him back to sleep. And how long do the episodes last if you just leave them in there?

I stay with him the whole time. It probably doesn't do anything, but I'd feel too bad leaving him to deal with that alone. I rub his back or just say "shh it's ok" kinda things. They last maybe 15 minutes or so. They were pretty bad for a month or so, but now they're few and far between.

[mandi195]

I had night terrors when I was a kid; they were horrible. I'd thrash around and yell during mine; apparently they flat out terrified my mother. My son has had some, what I consider, mild variations of night terrors. He will be yelling or crying while asleep, but doesn't get physical like I used to. Best I've found to help him is to just be there with him (especially in case he does wake up). When he was younger I would pick him up and hold him and calmly keep saying "baby, wake up" and he would; usually not knowing he was just having this bad dream, and I'd just cuddle him until he fell back asleep.

[playlawook]

Jan 27, 2015 10:47:22 GMT -5 mrsh288 said:

Jan 27, 2015 10:43:37 GMT -5 playlawook said:

Do you go in there and console or do you just leave them in there alone? My question is because he actually didn't even register that I was there so I wonder if it was more hindrance than help to get him back to sleep. And how long do the episodes last if you just leave them in there?

I stay with him the whole time. It probably doesn't do anything, but I'd feel too bad leaving him to deal with that alone. I rub his back or just say "shh it's ok" kinda things. They last maybe 15 minutes or so. They were pretty bad for a month or so, but now they're few and far between.

Ok good to know. I don't think I could bear to leave him in there alone, so I'll just do that. It felt good to at least be doing all I could to help him, even if he didn't know I was there.

[lalae910]

My husband actually still gets these sometimes. He says he usually doesn't remember them when they happen, and that when he wakes up scared it's usually a nightmare and not a night terror. I don't know if that helps at all, but I hope it gets better! If it continues I would definitely bring it up with a pediatrician and see what they say would help.

[wamom]

My son has had night terrors for the past year. They are finally becoming infrequent. They totally blow.

But in my experience I just let him cry as long as he isn't going to harm himself (like running like a maniac or something because really they are still asleep and if he is running and throwing things I try to stop him). If a night terror has been going on too long 30minutes plus and I'm exhausted I will try to just gently rub his back to help him wake up gently.

Also it took me a couple months to realize they were night terrors and not just some random fit in the middle of the night. I thought it was a transitional thing because of his newborn sister but DH and I caught him sleep walking one night and put the pieces together.

Like I said it is finally getting better though. It only happens maybe once every 3-4 weeks now? Good luck! I hope it was a one time thing but if it isn't most kids outgrow it in time.