Night Terrors - Pawnee, OK

My daughter is now 6 and has had night terrors on and off for a few years. She'll go a long time without them, then every night for 3-4 nights. Appears to happen when she's overly tired (christmas time, spring break, etc) when her regular sleeping routings are out of whack. She doesn't remember them, but it's work on my part because I've lost sleep, she's lost sleep, AND it's happening because she was tired to begin with. So I have to work a nap into the schedule or convence her to sleeping in late on the weekends to get caught up.

My daughter did the same thing only she started much younger. We did talk to the doctor, all she could tell us was to watch for signs during the day, if my daughter got really scared in the day over something she would dream that night, and if she was overly tired it would also happen. The usually grow out of it. We were also told turn the lights on in her room when she starts the screaming, if she does open her eyes and all she see is shadows if make it worse, at time you may not want to pick her up or touch her, if she is dreaming someone it chasel her and you grap her she thinks you are the person in the dreams. The only good part about them is that they usually dont' remember haveing a night terror like the would a bad dream. My daughter does not have the night terrors anymore, but she does still talk alot. Night terror is considering a sleep disorder and it is grouped with sleep walking, talking in your sleep, and in older kids bed wetting. It is actually something that is past down in the family. My son does it a little but nothing like my daughter did. My husband would sleep walk when he was little.

I am in the same boat as you! I have a 6 year old that has night terrors as well and now my 2 year old has started having them. What worked for me was to make sure all the doors are shut except for the bedroom door, and make sure there is some type of light that they can still see, if it happens then just try to comfort them, if they have to get up and throw things, i was always told to let them, just make sure that it isnt something that could hurt them. You just have to let it run it course, and hopefully they will out grow these.

Please let me know if there is anythign you need help on.

My older son had them, but at a younger age - around 2 or 3. As he got older he had some sleepwalking, but not a lot.

My younger son didn't have the night terrors as bad, but he has always been very active in his sleep. He did the sleepwalking, too. He also wet the bed until age 7.

I just want you to know that they both outgrew it, and that this will pass. It is more common in boys.

If he does start sleepwalking, be prepared for him to pee in weird places. lol When my oldest started sleepwalking, I had my computer in the kitchen, and he walked into the kitchen where I was. I didn't realize he was sleepwalking right away, and told him to get back to bed. I turned around and he was peeing on the kitchen rug! lol After that if he got up I would lead him to the bathroom and stand him in front of the toilet, and hold on to his elbow to guide his aim.

My younger one got up one night, and my DH led him back to his bed. I asked him if he'd taken him to the bathroom first he said, no he went right back to bed. I heard him in there giggling and I said "well he just peed on the floor" He pulled down his pullup and peed on the floor, which was covered with those foam alphabet puzzle pieces. I still get nervous when I hear him giggle in his sleep, but he seems to have outgrown that part.

My son also had night terrors...it lasted about 6 months, but we found a pattern...he would always start screaming around 10:00 at night, so around 9:30-9:45 I would go upstairs and gently wake him up...to pull him out of that deep sleep. I would then sit and talk to him in a soothing voice about happy things (flowers, campouts, birthday parties, etc) for about 5 minutes, then let him go back to sleep...this really helped.. he usually would not have one that night, as long as I did that. If I didn't go up, he would have two to three per night, and never remember them in the morning.... hope this helps!

In our experience, they are linked with being overtired and/or lack of protein with dinner.

My daughter's night terrors were always triggered by emotion/stress and fatigue. Make sure your Dreamer can't hurt himself, is comforted by your voice (and your touch if it doesn't add to his fright), and try to gently coax him back to bed and calm sleep. He will outgrow it, but at 5, it may take a few years.

As a mom, I understand how scary it is. It's amazing that they don't remember in the morning - especially when they seem so awake when they scream out, even looking right at you. Pay special attention to what triggers them, and you can be a little more prepared, kind of know when you might expect them.

Be warned, *if you've got a smart and manipulating one*, if they figure out they get extra attention in the middle of the night, they can try to fake them, too. So be careful not to make a big deal about it during waking hours when he might be listening!