Night Terrors/sleepwalking

Yes my daughter used to and still does (I think) have night terrors. there is really nothing that you can do except be there when they finally wake up.

Both of my boys had night terrors when they were toddlers. It is scarey, but what I learned is you are to try to soothe them by rubbing their back, but not try to wake them up.

Night Terrors are so different from nightmares. My granddaughter (three years of age) has night terrors, and like your description, it sounds almost the same. She thrashes about crying with either her eyes open or closed, but not focusing on anything, just crying and thrashing. We have tried numerous things, i.e. holding her, trying to comfort, talking, kissing, but nothing helps. This can go on for five minutes and has lasted almost an hour. She seems to have these when she has a day that has a lot of stimuli, like birthday parties, kids play (running around a lot) etc. We have come to prepare ourselves for this to happen, and it does I would say 60% of the time. The more we have tried to comfort, it has lasted longer, so now when she has one we try to make sure she can't hurt herself and just keep talking in a calm tone saying, "Mommy is here or Daddy or Grandma is here," and eventually it does run it's course. Only once when it lasted almost an hour my daughter was so frustrated that she shook her (not hard) and said to wake up in a stern voice a few times. She then did wake, and you saw the immediate difference from the night terror to awakening. She then proceeded to cry and was able to be comforted. The experts say to leave the child alone, just make sure they can't hurt themselves until it stops and they wake up. I would say my granddaughter has had at least six or seven of these, and it almost always happened after a strenuous day of play. Take note of what transpired that day in order to be prepared. From what I have read, this does not only happen once, but a few times until and if they grow out of it. Not much anyone can do about it. Good luck and know that it happens and just to keep your child safe.

Hi Brenda,
It does sound like night terrors. My oldest daughter has had them since she was 2 and they are just now starting to dissipate at 5 years old. At her worst she would have 5-7 episodes per night occurring 4-6 nights per week. Her episodes would last anywhere from a couple of minutes to 30-45 minutes. Terrors usually occur in the first part of the night; for our daughter it was 1 1/2 to 3 hours after she fell asleep. It's true that this is all worse for the parents. The child doesn't remember anything. The only residual effect I would notice is that after a particularly bad night, she would be more tired/grumpy the next day. There really is nothing the parent can do other than make sure the child doesn't hurt themselves during a terror. It only makes it worse if you try to hold them because typically they are feeling a sense of having to get away from something. She was so bad that we made an appointment at the Pediatric Sleep Disorder Center (part of Children's Hospital Boston) and got the appointment with Dr. Richard Ferber. (We ended up having to cancel due to a death in the family and didn't reschedule cuz she seemed to be getting better.) You can find lots of info on the internet, but basically if it is night terrors, there isn't much you can do. They usually go away by 7 years old if not sooner. One technique we did use for a while was this: if you start to notice a pattern as far as what time your son has his terrors (say 10:30 pm)you can go into his room before he has it (maybe 10:00) and wake him slightly to break the sleep cycle. Sometimes this worked for us, but sometimes it didn't. Another piece of info: they say that terrors can be triggered by lots of things like a loud noise (we tip toed around our house after she was in bed), or the child getting twisted in the sheets. I found all of this so frusterating because there really isn't much the parents can do but wait for the child to outgrow them. Sorry I couldn't be more encouraging. But at least you can know that your child isn't being harmed by them. I had a second child too during the worst of my oldest's terrors. Between nursing the baby round the clock and dealing with terrors all night, I survived with naps whenever I could and the kindness of others willing to help out! If you'd ever like to talk or pick my brain more, I'd be happy to hear from you. Good luck and I hope his terrors don't turn out to be too bad.

I do not have any personal experience with this but I have heard from my brother / sister-in-laws that if you take the child outside into the cold air for a minute it will calm them down. The cool air kind of snaps them out of it and gets them snuggling into you. good luck!

My oldest son, now almost 13, had night terrors and they are awful to go through as a parent. His started when he was a little over two and he had eight or nine over the next year and a half. We used to say it was "lights on, nobody home". They were a random occurrence and over-tiredness, illness or location made no difference. They usually started about three hours after he went to sleep and lasted 45-47 minutes. All we could do was keep him safe (falling out of bed, etc) and they would end as quickly as they started. It was impossible to wake him up (even though his eyes were open) and holding him was physically impossible so all we could do was watch him and the clock. He remembered nothing about them in the morning. They are exhausting to go through so chin up. Double check with the pediatrician for your peace of mind and good luck.

I attended a workshop on night terrors. I learned that night terrors do usually occur when the child is overtired (as yours is now, from being sick). It can be hereditary: the woman who taught the workshop has found a link between parents who experienced them themselves, or who sleep walk (or did as children), or who suffer migraines, and night terrors in their children. The best thing to do when your child suffers a night terror is to leave him alone. Do not try to interact with him. Do not try to wake him up - because he is still completely asleep, and waking him up will be disorienting and confusing for him. It will make you feel better to watch and just make sure there isn't anything around that can hurt him. For example, when our 5-year old daughter has them, my husband goes in and puts a pillow on the edge of her nightstand, so she doesn't bang her head on the corner. But the doctors all say, night terrors are much worse for the parents than for the child who is experiencing it. He will not remember it in the morning. It's really horrible to watch, but the less you intervene with him, the better it will go for him. Good luck!

Our older son experienced night terrors so I truly feel for you - they can be frightening to witness - all you want to do is comfort them. From the reading we've done...it is hereditary and very common with boys. They eventually grow out of it. It can be a long road and the best you can do for them is to just make sure they stay safe during the episode. There are articles that suggest certain foods can trigger it (ie bananas, etc..) - we rode the storm for about a year off and on. The good thing is they don't seem to remember the episode in the am. Knock on wood they seem to have diminished but he does occasionally wake from bad dreams (but that is pretty normal I think). It might make you feel better to do some research, talk to your childs pediatrician, and of course seeking advice on mamasource! I hope this passes quickly for you.

It does sound like sleepwalking/night terrors. I have heard it is hereditary as well. It can really be brought on by not having enough sleep - which it sounds as though that is a particular issue for you right now given his respiratory infection. My daughter has had episodes, not quite as strong as it sounds your son's was, but it always leaves me freaked out as she seems possessed and doesn't respond. Try getting him to sleep longer for naps, etc.. Good luck.

Hi Brenda I cant help you with your problem but I have a similar one. My 3 year old daughter I believe has started sleep walking. A few weeks ago we found her in the kitchen in the middle of the night crying and playing with a ball. We tried to get her attention asking her what she was doing but she not answer us we brought her in the living room and tried to talk with her but she still would not answer. It was not until we were putting her back to bed did she respond by saying what are you doing here? She has her yearly physical at the end of this week and I plan on bringing it up to the doctor. We did install slide chain locks at the top of all the doors incase this happens again so there is no way out. If I find out anything interesting I'll let you know. Good luck.

You mentioned that your son has been sick. I wonder if you are giving him any medication - that can sometimes cause that type of behavior - especially if it has some type of steroid in it for the respiratory infection.
That said - my son has done something similar - it could just be a night terror which likely will NOT become a regular pattern.
Good luck!

Hi Brenda,

Two of my four kids have experienced night terrors. I don't know why some kids have them and others don't, but I will agree they are frightening to watch. The child looks so terrified but is actually not conscious so are not receptive to intervention. They may react to you if you try to intervene but not in any reality based way. You can actually make the terror worse.

I found that the best thing to do is to lead them back to bed and get them to lie down and stroke their back until they actually go back into a deep sleep. It is virtually impossible to wake them; even though you want to because they seem so distressed. They do gradually outgrow them becoming less and less as time goes on.

My son, now 23 had his last night terror around age 13. He had been sick with a stomach bug (excessive vomiting) I took him to the pediatrician who gave him a shot of a drug called vistaril which relieved his nausea and made him sleep however he had a terrible night terror. This was especially frightening because he was quite large and I was actually afraid of him. Prior to that episode he hadn't had a night terror since about age 10.

J. L.

Sounds like you got a lot of advice and you'll have to try out what works for you and your child.
I used to babysit for a family and when the girl had a night terror, I had to take her outside (even if it was winter) and the cold air would help her snap out of it.

My son used to have night terrors when he spiked a fever. They are very disturbing, and upsetting to those who see it, but they usually don't remember a thing. It is very scary to see him looking straight through you, and screaming at what ever it is they are dreaming about. My advise is to just let them know you are there ( mommy is here, you are dreaming, go back to sleep) and stay with them until it subsides. But I would also check their temp just to be sure. My son would get a very high fever and at times we would have to give him a cool bath to bring it down until the tylenol or motrin kicked in. These night terrors usually occured when he was sick, or very very overtired. Good luck...
T.R.

My oldest has had two night terrors in his life (the 2nd was over the Atlantic ocean on a full flight...not fun!!) The key is to not wake them. Leave them in their crib, don't talk to them, don't sing to them. Make sure that they are safe and that they can't hurt themselves or others. They are NOT awake (even if their eyes are open). The more you try and engage with them the longer the episode will last. The one good thing is that they will not remember any of it in the morning.

With my son's first terror I did everything wrong!! Then I read up on it and learned what not to do. Unfortunately when you are on a packed flight I was forced by my environment to do everything wrong.

They say it can be induced with overtired kids that have had too much sugar. But who really knows what sets it off.

Good luck!

SAHM (5 1/2, 4 1/2 and 22 1/2 month old boys)

It does happen more to children who's parents had sleep terrors. I did and my daughter has them. They can be brought on more by fever. I've read what I can. You can't try to shake them out of itor force them out of it. Just be there with them and be gentle and calm and let them get through it. The best suggestion I read was to turn on one of their favorite shows on tv and put them in front of it. You might see if that seems to calm your daughter.It calms our daughter down and she focuses on it until she is completely awake (can take 45 minutes to wake up). I know it's scary as a parent but the best thing you can do it be calm and sit with them until they have come through it on their own. Also, make sure they don't get too overtired. Sleep terrors are more common when children are overtired.

Hi Brenda-

It sounds like night terrors, from what I know.

We had a very similar experience with our daughter a couple of months ago. She was around 19 mo. old at the time. She woke up in the middle of the night crying/shrieking. My husband and I both got up to check on her and she was thrashing around in her bed and totally unconsolable- we tried to get her to look at us- her eyes were open, but she wouldn't focus. It actually happened twice within a couple of months- the first time I brought her into our bedroom because we didn't know what was going on and she thrased around on our bed for 3 or 4 minutes-w ouldn't let us touch her or hold her- the second time we stayed in her room and I pulled her out of her bed to rock her and again she wouldn't let me hold her so I just let her down on the floor- it's almost like she was having a temper tantrum, but half asleep!

The first time it happened I was so freaked out that I grabbed my laptop after she went back to sleep and started looking up info on night terrors (at 2 a.m.!)- and sure enough I found some info online that described her episodes almost perfectly. Basically they are in a sleep state and you're supposed to leave them alone as long as they're safe. It's like having a bad dream, and apparently they don't remember it...it's scarier for the parents then for the child. Also, it typically happens when they are over tired, stressed or sick- so in your case your son was sick- in our case I was expecting baby no. 2 within a month or so-

do a couple of searches online, and you'll probably be reassured. Though I know how freaky it can be when it happens. However, now that we know what it is, we will not be quite so alarmed if it happens again.

Hi Brenda,
Yes - it does sound like night terrors. My oldest daughter suffered from them when she was that age. She is almost 17 yrs old now and turned out perfect! But, those years when she had them, were just awful! Very scarry! She would hit and kick and sream unconsolably. I hate to say it, or even think it, but it was like she was possessed! She would scream at the top of her lungs for "mom" and I was right there holding her but she didn't know it and wouldn't acknowlege me. These went on for months, more often if she were tired - or like you said, sick.

Okay - this is a strange story, but maybe somehow, something like this will happen for you... One night, my husband was having a freezer-pop when all of a sudden, she started having a terror. He picked her up and brought her into the livingroom. Now - when a child has this terror - they are sleeping - but somehow, my husband got her to allow the freezer pop in her mouth. The sensation must have somehow threw her off - and she calmed down. From that night on, when ever she had a terror, he would do the same thing - and although she never "woke up" from it, the freezer pop would calm her down and she would eventually fall back "to sleep". I know - it's really strange - but this went on for months after! Maybe you could try a song or a water bottle of juice?? I don't know if something like this will work for you, but thank God it did for us! It is terrible to watch your child go through this!

Back then, it wasn't too common, but more so now, I have seen articles on this subject. Definately ask you Dr for advice and I'm sure there's lots on the internet.

Goodluck and remember - you and he WILL get though this!
J.

Hi Brenda,
My 2 year old occasionally will run and scream when he has one but he generally gets them when he has had gluten and he spd so when he hasnt had hisfill of sensory input for theday he gets them worse I usually just go in and talk to him in soft calm voice. My oldest used to have them but he never got out of bed he would just scream and for him singing his favorite song and rocking seemed to do the trick.

Hi Brenda,

My son used to get night terrors on rare occasions when he was ill but mostly he had numeruos nightmares nightly. It turns out he had food intolerances. When foods he did not tolerate were cut out of his diet, he was able to rest easily.

Good luck,
: ) Maureen

My girl, now 20, used to wake screaming and I would hold her and she could not hear or feel me. I would take us into the bathroom, let the water run till it was hot enough and then get in holding her close and talking calmly. The warmth of the room, the calm of warm water and calming voices brought her out slowly and I was there to explain and talk with her.

My kids love the water, does yours?

Hi Brenda,
I know what you mean about this being so terrifying. My oldest son used to scream like he was being murdered and scare us like you wouldn't believe. Now when he goes into a deep sleep and wakes at times, his eyes are open, but he has no clue where he is or what is going on kind of looks at you with a blank stare, maybe sometimes mumbles something, but never talks so you can understand him. My youngest who is 2.5 has nightmares or night terrors now. He talks in his sleep, he crys, screams, kicks, punches etc. I honestly just try to assure him (by talking calmly) maybe rubbing his head or something, calling his name that he is just having a bad dream, I always tell him it's ok and mommy's here etc. and usually he stops until the next one. I started watching to see what time he was waking at night and talking, screaming etc. and it's the same times every night. I think this is when he might be entering his deep sleep or something. I would watch and see and he is consistent every night.

Remember things are still so new to him at his age. Things that we don't think are scarey are so frightening to them in their little minds. Don't panic or get upset. Just calmly try talking to him in a soothing voice etc. I don't think you are supposed to wake a sleep walker (not sure). If you are really concerned about his behavior, then I would talk to your pediatrician.

Maybe it's because of his cold (discomfort). I would keep the head of his bed elevated, a humidifier running etc. Sometimes I even sleep with mine when they are bad keeping their head propped for them so they can rest peacefully. Sounds weird, but works for us.

I wish you and your husband much luck with this because it is very frightening to be awoken in the middle of the night by screaming etc. Would love to know how you make out!!!

K. Falcione
Foxboro Mom

I have had children who were sleep walkers and children who had nightmares.
I have never had an experience similar to yours though.
Upper respiratory infections can turn sour rather rapidly sometimes.
I think I would check this out with her pediatrician as it is such an unusual occurance.
I think you may have to be insistant as it sounds like something a doctor may brush off and I think she needs a complete check up to make sure nothing is seriously amiss.
It is always better to err on the side of caution.
She is very young to be either having nightmares or sleepwalking, yes?
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell.