5 month old son has nightmares? Is it possible?

Question

My son who is not quite 6 months, has been having weird episodes that I thought were nightmares, but somebody said that wasn't possible. He'll be sound asleep & make a screaching sound, then start crying & pushing his arms forward (like he was trying to move or block something), but he's not awake. If I pick him up while he's doing it he'll sorta cringe until I rock him & tell him it's ok. He sometimes says mama (I don't think he knows the meaning of that yet though, he just started to do it when he gets upset).
I remember waking up when I was like 3 & 4 because of awful nightmares (obviously they were bad enough that I remember doing it). My mom said when I was about 9 months I started doing the same thing he is, until I was around 7 years old...Could it be nightmares? What can I do for him?
He by NO means has a traumatic life, or has ever seen anything traumatic. We hardly raise our voices in front of him & don't really get mad very often, so I dunno what could have triggered it.

Please help, he's shaken up afterwards when he wakes up & I would like to help him if I can...

Answer 1

I'm not sure it's nightmares. Perhaps he might be ill or something. May be it was something else. Try seeing your pastor. let him pray for the Baby.Try taking him to doctor. it's true.

Answer 2

As a mother and a grandmother I am concerned for your baby. I would ask the pediatrician if it could be more than a stomach ache. If it is not a physical problem, look at Everyone who has ever been around him without you, even if it were just for a few moments. Even close family members who seem to be loving can have some bad emotional problems that your baby is seeing and you are not. Look at the world through his eyes, maybe the stroller was going too fast that day when you were in a hurry, and things were going by him so quickly he cried from fear. Because you asked this question, I see you are a good mom, don't stop until you have some answers. Good luck.

Answer 3

I'm soooo sorry! Are you in a good routine with him? Does he have a set bedtime? Are you leaving the TV or radio on? Maybe even a fan? It is absolutely possible that he his having nightmares. The first years of life are where your brain and body grow the most. Are you with him all day? What kind of bed is he sleeping on? I kinda need more details, but I'm more than ahppy to help out if I can. A lot of babies just like to be swaddled and loved and if they get uncovered and don't feel like they are tightly held, they scream and cry because they are scared, sleeping or not. E-mail me with some more details and maybe I can help you more. Good Luck hun and God Bless!
[e-mail]
Mother of 1 with another on the way.

Answer 4

I think your son is OK. I would still speak with his pediatrician about it, but dont worry or get stressed over the situation. It could be gas, it could be him wanting to be near you (but is too tired to completely wake up), or maybe he is reflecting on birth, circumcision (if he's had it), or anything that may have slightly scared him. My daughter is easily startled at noises such as loud coughs or sneezes, but wont budge when she hears a dog bark, or the vacuum cleaner run. Dont worry, sweetie. He will be fine.

I would recommend cuddling with him more than you already do to reassure him of security. Also, you may want to keep loud noises around him (like the t.v. or radio).

Check out this article...it may help some. Good luck!

http://www.drgreene.com/21_1149.html

Answer 5

Rub him down in breastmilk, that should fix it all...


Ok, I'm just being silly. Seriously, I'm sorry your little guy is upset at night. Try and soothe him and maybe put a small clock radio in his room on a easy listening station on low volume but audiable, like some smooth jazz or some classical tunes, each night.

I do this for my baby at night, and she has developed some impressive talking and singing skills, and she did used to have the occassional whine in her sleep, but not anymore. Maybe the lttile guy would like some nightime music to relax and soothe him. A lot of grownups like to sleep with white noise in the background, a baby can't be any different. They are just little folks. Good luck.

Answer 6

To me I believe babies can have nightmares. I know they have dreams. My child will move his foot as if he is flinching in his dreams. They move their hands as if using them in their dreams. My son is almost 5 months old and has woke up a time or two startled and crying. Unfortunately you cannot control their dreams or nightmares but monitor what they see during the day such as tv shows or movies you watch. Children at that age do pick up more than what you would think. They may not process it as good but they are very aware and alert of their surroundings.

Answer 7

Babies have dream episodes but I've heard it's not like dreams you have when your older. So I don't believe they do. It could be gas or maybe he is just overly tired and that is causing his brain to react in a weird way?
If he doesn't wake up from it then I would just let him be because if you pick it up and he's not awake when you pick him up that may startle him and make him seam upset and you will think it's from the episode. If he wakes up after his little episode then pick him up and comfort him.

Answer 8

My 7 month old has in basic terms began doing a similar ingredient, he will wake screaming and that i bounce up away from mattress so speedy. All i can do is rock him lower back to sleep or positioned him in mattress with us. I do think of its an attachment ingredient, he has exchange into so linked to me and he's often used with while im no longer there, so i think of he wakes interior the night and wonders the place i'm.

Answer 9

when my daughter was about 9 months she had night terrors,which are different than nightmares.She'd start screaming and hitting it was awful.It was also hard to get her to go to sleep.During the day she'd be fine.I took her to all kinds of Dr.'s.I thought there was something wrong internally but why only at night? I changed her diet,her babysitter, our routines...nothing helped.One Dr. told me about night terrors and gave me a book.I've already given the book away but I'm sure you could look up info on the net.It really scared me.The bad thing is they out grow it. G'luck

Answer 10

This link here:
http://www.drgreene.com/21_619.html

has information on newborns and dreaming. according to it, newborns dream more than anyone else... especially 4-6 month olds, based on studies. It doesn't have anything specific about newborn nightmares, but it does have a section on nightmares right after that, and it might relate to it and help you understand it more... so, sorry i couldn't find any specific links to actual newborn nightmares, but that's as close as it comes...

newborns do dream, and have nightmares though, so whoever told you they didn't was wrong.

Answer 11

I do believe he could be suffering from night terrors.. my youngest did and sometimes still does and she is 5 1/2 years old now... the only thing that i sbest for him is to comfort him and make him feel safe and secure... your not supposed to wake them ... just console him until he is back to sleep...