My 16 month old Daughter has drastically changed her sleeping habits. This is new to me. She has trouble falling to sleep (which was never a problem before) and every night, like clockwork at 1am she will wake up screaming, kicking her legs, working herself into a rage. It's almost like she doesn't know she's doing it. I try everything to soothe, not soothe, etc...but nothing works. This goes on for about 2 hours every night. Sometimes it happens more often. We are both exhausted. Has anyone experienced this?
Thanks to everyone who responded! She had several things going on, but "night terrors" was part of the problem. I am still experimenting with all the suggestions, and went to the pediatrition to confirm diagnosis. Now at least I know what I'm dealing with and have all of your suggestions in dealing with it.
Thanks so much!
The baby is most likely geting another tooth and it starts aching at that time or is at that age when they start having nightmares that could be a possibility. My oldest child would do that sometimes. good luck.
K.
Night terrors! That's what my 27 month old daughter's ped called it. It started at just over a year old and she still has them. They aren't nightmares and she isn't even aware of what's happening around her. I can't wake her up and she kicks off the covers and screams. Sometimes several times a night. There are very few nights were she does not have at least one. He said that she would eventually grow out of them, but it's common and nothing to worry about. She does not seem to remember them at all.
I have found that if I give her a sip of ice water (if she'll take it) seems to calm her down. She takes a couple of sips, rolls over and goes back to sleep.
Good Luck!
Definately sounds like night terrors. This is related to sleep walking. Your child isn't awake. My son started getting them at 11 months. I find that he only gets them now when he has had a very active day, or we are out later than normal at a family event (which usually means alot of active play with cousins) - and he hasn't had a nap. Check with your pediatrician about the best way to handle. My friend's son got worse if she held him. My son does better if I hold him and hum a lullaby...
There is some good information on the internet if you do a google search on night terrors.
It is so scary to watch. Best of luck.
M.
It sounds like night terrors, which my daughter started getting when she turned 2. They are disoriented and not quite awake at the time. Nothing will soothe them. My pediatrican recommended either letting her cry it out (which I could never do) or totally waking her up and then putting her back to sleep. What I would do is turn on the light make sure she is awake by talking to her, maybe change her diaper and then I would rock her back to sleep. It worked everytime, yes it isn't a great solution because you are still up and not sleeping but it got her to sleep a lot early then 2 hrs. The problem with her not falling asleep could be becuase she is overly tired from not getting a good night sleep the night before. Whenever my daughter has a rough night, which is often I make sure she either takes 2 naps instead of 1 or she gets to bed earlier then her normal bed time. Normally nightterrors take place shortly after they go to bed or early morning. IF she is waking up a lot at night then it could be an ear infection. If that is the case then try to sleep with her upright to relieve the pain in her ear and see a doctor for medicine. Good luck I know how sleep deprivation feels and how bad night terrors cna be on the parent. The child really doesn't remember them so she is just tired in the end.
Im actually going thru the same thing with my 14 month old. He will not sleep thru out the night...Ill love some avdice as well
Hi J.
Ditto on the night terrors. My nephew went through this about the same age. His ped suggested also waking him up totally, playing with him etc then putting him back to bed. He also suggested waking him up before they should begin, play with him, then put him back to sleep. It only lasted about a month I think. Maybe put a call into the ped and ask what they suggest.
Good luck
What are night terrors? My son tends to wake up during the night around 3 a.m., which is not such a bad thing when you have to be up at 4 a.m., however a full nights sleep is always nice. He doesn't wake up every night like this just once in a while. I lay down with him and he's fine but sometimes he doesn't always go right back to sleep.
Hi J.,
Wow! I had forgotten about my son doing that several years ago. He is now 9, but when he was just under two, her started to do the VERY same thing. The doctor said he was having Night Terrors, and he was completely asleep and unaware that it was happening, even though he seemed like he was awake. It is VERY exhausting....and frightening! It brought me to tears several times because I thought he didn't want me to sooth him as he didn't react to my touch or words or anything!
It seems hard, but you just have to wait for her to grow out of it. Our doctor didn't suggest any medication or anything, just said to wait it out! I was tired, but he always seemed fine the next day and never remembered it when I asked how he slept.
It does go away. I think it lasted for about a year and then went away. But that was a VERY LONG year! :)
Good Luck....take a nap during the if you get a chance! I wish you the BEST!
C.
Oh my gosh, I just was talking to my best friend the pshycologist by the way, because my son has been doing the same thing for about a month and is 18 months old. It has been very bad every morning at 1-2 am and we both work full time and I attend school. She was explaining to me that they go through a huge seperation anxiety problem at this age and they need to be by their parents. They feel safe and secure with us, and when they are in their bed they dont have that security. Gosh good luck to you and me I hope this ends soon, I feel like I have a newborn in the house again.
