So for the past two weeks or so our three year old daughter has been waking up pretty hysterical. It happens at almost the same time each night, often twice a night. She looks awake, but not she doesn't look herself. She cries, wails and sometimes screams while sitting up in bed. Occassionally she will get out of bed and wander the house. She is hysterical, but my very verbal child will not talk or respond during these episodes. It's almost like she doesn't even realize I am there. There have been no major changes around here and I can't think of any stressors. So are these episdodes night terrors? Is there anything we can do to prevent it, it can be a bit disturbing.
My son had this problem and it upset me so much that my husband had to deal with it and get him back to bed. He would have his eyes open, but look right through us.
The biggest trigger I found was my son being over tired. It would happen after a big family event or when we'd been up late. We worked hard not to let this happen for a long time!!
Yes, sounds like one to me. My husband's had a few. It is scary when you watch it happen, but people don't seem to remember them. It is fairly common in children...like 15%, I think. The biggest trigger is being overtired! Make sure she is going to bed early and getting enough sleep. My husband also noticed a connection to caffeine consumption late in the day and being overtired and night terrors.
It should pass fairly quickly. Call the Dr if you are worried. Good luck!
My son used to have similar experiences. Everything I read online made me think they were night terrors. It was always at the beginning of the night for him and would last on and off for an hour or two. Looking back now I wonder if his were related to his food intolerances. He has many food allergies and intolerances and when he eats something that hurts his body he'll have a response like this. Sometimes it involves coughing and throwing up, sometimes not. Our latest problem is with citrus. It's probably a reach for your situation but I figured I'd throw it out there just in case:
They sound like night terrors to me. Our youngest son was diagnosed with night terrors when he was very young, maybe 18 months or so. It's been so long it's hard for me to remember. I know he wasn't older than 2. Anyway, he's almost 8 now, and we're still waiting for him to outgrow them. :(
The only trigger we've figured out is him being over-tired, but he gets tons of sleep. He goes to sleep at 7:00, and gets up at 7:00. Occassionally he stays up late for a special occassion, and then he may or may not have a night terror the following night. It's hard to tell. His night terrors seem to come in waves, too. He'll go several months without one, and then he'll hit a rough patch and have 6 or 7 in one month. It's awful.
Talk to your pediatrician. There really isn't much you can do, though. The only comforting news is that the child doesn't have any recollection of them. I'm sorry you and your daughter are dealing with this.
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That does sound like night terrors.
The biggest trigger for us has been over tiredness
yes that is what it sounds like. Not sure what time at night they happen, but night terrors typically happen between 12am-2am. They can last up to 30 minutes. They say it actually makes them more hysterical if you try and talk to or move them. It is better to just make sure they are safe until they start to wake up. Remember they are NOT awake even though they look like they are, and they won't remember it. Kids usually grow out of them. Watch any changes in diet, limit sugar and stimulation before bed. My daughter often had them right before an illness came one, and had them really bad after our 2nd baby was born due to the change.
Certainly sounds like it. Especially if they are happening earlier in the evening (near midnight, not 4 am).
My daughter had these the last 2 years (3-4yo). Hers would often result in a tantrum at 2 am. Not fun. But, she's almost 5yo and hasn't had one in a long time. Most kiddos (but not all) outgrow them.
What worked for us with night terrors...it typically happens at the two hour mark after going to bed, wake him/her at about 1- 1 1/2 hours and then put back to sleep. It breaks up that 2 hour cycle that he/she is in. When we have had it going on, the wake up method seems to stop it in a few days at the most. For us, it has almost always been when the kids are overtired.
It does sound like night terrors to me. My daughter had really bad ones when she was 3. She would lay in bed screaming with her eyes wide open...I wouldn't touch her but I would say loudly "Mama is here it's ok!" and she would usually look right at me still screaming with a look on her face as though she saw a ghost...complete terror. I touched her once while this happened and she started pushing me away while looking at me screaming "No NO!!!" so I suggest no touching...just be around her and let her hear your voice...they usually snap out of it and are relieved to see you there. I do not know of a way to stop them except that they are more common than people think...children grow out of it...my daughter was 4 when she stopped.
It could be. Stress is not relevant, it is neurological. My son had them, I can't remember when they ended but I know I haven't seen one since he was four.
There is really nothing you can do but keep them from hurting themselves. It is harder to watch that it is for them, they don't even know they have them.
Sounds like it. Talk to her pediatrician about it when you get a chance. They may have some good suggestions.
Since there are no obvious stressors, I'd look at how much sleep she's getting. My son has had night terrors occasionally since about that age (a little older). He requires a TON of sleep compared to other kids his age in order to be at his best. He sleeps 11 to 11.5 hours a night now (at 6 year old). At 3 he needed about 11 hours at night plus a 3 hour nap mid day. Anything less than that and the night terrors are back (along with more sever symptoms of his ADHD).
HTH
T.
