Nighmares/Night Terrors

My son is 2, and also having some nightmares, waking up scared. It's normal at this age. I've also noticed he has fears during the day (loud noises, strangers, etc). Just a developmental thing, becoming aware of the world. Does your daughter have a night light in her room? If not, I recommend getting one. Also, we leave our boys' bedroom door slightly open, and for a long while left the hall light on for them. When my son wakes at night, I or my husband will go to him, comfort him, get him water, give hugs, kisses. Then we tell him, "it's okay now, go back to sleep." This is usually enough. Don't feel like you need to bring your daughter to bed with you, that will most likely become a bad habit. Just comfort her, and leave, go back as need be. Just letting her know you are there will be a big comfort. Good luck!

Hi B.!

We have a just turned 3 year old who would do the same thing... wake up at odd hours in the night and come in our bedroom for comfort. She didn't have nightmares so to speak, and we concluded that she was simply hungry. Once we gave her a late evening snack before brushing her teeth she seemed comforted throughout the night.

On another note, since we have daughter #3 on the way to arrive in July we put both girls together in toddler beds in one bedroom. One daughter is 15-months and the other just turned 3. We discovered that the youngest daughter would awake screaming and scared because she was disoriented in the dark. We simply added a touch lamp (lowest setting) to their bedroom and the problem was solved.

This could also simply be a phase... my oldest all of a sudden was terrified of taking a bath for about two weeks earlier this year. And then, just as suddenly she reverted back to really enjoyed bath time again. Point being... you may never figure out what is causing her fear. I wish you and the family the best!

Maybe teething (2 yr molars)? Or maybe she's waking because she needs to use the bathroom? You mention that she is potty training.

Hi, Sharie's explanation of the "nightterror's" is right on. They are different from nightmares or waking up scared. I was a nanny for a little boy who had nightterrors, and my little girls have had them occasionally when they have gone to bed overly tired. What time is your little girl's bedtime? Make sure she is getting adequate rest for her age. My girls sound like her, sometimes playing quietly during naptime. They may not seem tired, but 11 to 13 hours of sleep a day is a good guideline for a two year old. Hope you can figure out a solution. I KNOW how heartbreaking it is for your little one to be screaming at night.

If at all possible, try spending some time in her room at bedtime. One thing I discovered within my own home was that noise from the A/C cutting on and off made a loud rattling sound that was only audible from upstairs. I never even noticed it until I was lying down with her one night when all was dark, still and quiet. Then suddenly there was thumping and rattling. I was scared! It sounded like there was someone right outside the door. Sometimes it helps just to see what they are seeing or hear what they are hearing. Good luck!

Night terrors have very tell tale signs. Does she look at you but yet seems like she is looking through you or look at you like she has no clue who you are? Does she call out for mommy still when you are right in front of her?

Those are a few of the signs. My daughter used to get them once in a while and would give me the creeps when she wouldn't reconize me. The best thing to do is do not try to get her to snap out of it. It's like sleep walking for them. Be calm and reasurring to her that everything is ok and put her back to bed. You might have to play out anything she thinks is going on too. Stay there with her till she falls back to sleep (doesn't take very long) and she should be fine after that. Even if she could tell you the next day what happen, she won't remember.

If they happen more than 2-3 times a week then I would take her to the DR and talk to him about it.

Hope this helps!! Good luck to you guys!

S.

My little girl did the same thing. Most of the time, I don't think she even was "awake" when I went in to ck. If she was not "awake" I did not wake her, but just let her get herself back to sleep. If she was I just tried to confort her. She could not tell me either. This was kinda a phase that last awhile and stopped, then would start again. The potty training might be it. Not that you are doing anything wrong, but that she is transitioning to another phase in her life. That seem to be when my daughters hit (starting preschool, potty training,,etc.)