Screaming 5 Month Old in His Sleep

My son had night terrors at least once a month from 3 mos to about 10 months.
The difference between that and a nightmare is whether or not the child recognizes you. Also the presence of fear. A night mare is just a few tears and the baby goes back to sleep.
A night terror takes a few minutes longer to calm them down. My son was ok after hugs and his pacifier.
He would scream and shake his hands like he was cold. (I think he was reliving an emergency room visit he had at five weeks).
Don't worry too much it's normal.

When my son was little he experienced severe night terrors and walking in his sleep. When I spoke to the doctor he asked if my son had experienced a high fever from a virus recently, which he had. The told that there have beeen cases of children experience these types of events or dillusions after a high fever or virus. If your son has been sick with a high fever this may be what is causing his night terrors.

If your son is still asleep when he is screaming, it may be 'night terrors'. It's an awful name but nothing serious. My daughter had them...she would talk and yell in her sleep. She wouldn't remember a thing in the morning. My pediatrician said that there is a 'switch' within the brain that separates the consious from the unconsious. When kids are small, this switch doesn't work properly. They grow out of it.

C.,

My daughter did the same thing at your sons age and didnt stop it until she was about 10 months. Actually she still does it once in a blue moon. I was on here asking the same question and everyone told me that it was normal. It may be night terrors or just that he misplaced his pacifier ( if he uses one). I did the same as you, rubbed her stomach and she right back to sleep. I know this can get alittle overwhelming, waking up so much in the middle of the night so wait for about 10-15 seconds to see if he falls to sleep again on his own. It may be he just needed to let out a scream or something. I used to be the same way and jump up at every sound she made but sometimes I would wait and she would fall right back to sleep. If he continues to cry after about 15 seconds I would go in and do what you are doing to get him bak to sleep. Sooo bottm line is that it seems to be pretty normal with all infants and he will grow out of it close to his first birthday. Hope this helps!

my son was doing they same thing we all thought is was night terrors but months later found out he had gas pains..

My son is 7 months old and he just recently started doing the same 1x per night. It is very difficult to get him back to sleep. I thought that it could be from teething??