Does anyone know of night terrors?

Question

I don't know if that is what is happening but my 2 year old son wakes in the middle of the night screaming. He doesn't want me to hold him or even touch him but he just wants me near. It is hard for me to get him to go back to sleep as he is wide awake by the time he calms down. This only just started happening a couple weeks ago.
Does anyone know why this happens or if there is something I can do to help him?

Answer 1

My 18 month old has them. My pediatrician said that night terrors usually occur at the beginning of the night (like before 2am) and then thereafter it is usually nightmares. Night terrors are characterized by a high pitched loud scream, but babies are usually easily soothed after one. Nightmares on the other hand usually wake them fully, and make it difficult to soothe them and get them back to sleep.

Sounds like nightmares to me. One thing you could do is to limit the visual stimuli (i.e., TV) late at night. Also, my guy has these symtpoms when he's teething too...its time for 2 year molars for you and they are pretty tough to push through. I have found that Hyland's teething tablets help us a lot, with both teething and night terrors/mares. Good luck sleepy mommy. And good luck to baby too.

Answer 2

I had night terrors myself. I had the same, very intense, horrible dream over and over again when I was 2 and 3. (I still remember every detail.) I would "wake" in the doorway of my parents' bedroom, screaming, but it took at least 15 or 20 minutes for me to REALLY wake--I was still in the dream. As with your son, I would want to clutch on to one of my parents, but not want to be held (too claustrophobic) or or really be aware of what was going on. I wish I could tell you that there was some magic trick to take away his fear and relax him again for sleep. Other than comforting words and a soothing touch if he'll allow it, I'm afraid there's not much you can do--it's a phase the two of you will have to ride out. I know how upsetting it is for you both. The good news is that is does come to an end. About the time I turned 4 I stopped having this dream. So it's not a life sentence.

P.S: I'm assuming, because you didn't mention it, that your son hasn't been through any real-life trauma lately that could be causing these upsetting dreams? I ask because, if it IS a "post-traumatic" kind of scenario, a lot more is known about treating it (even in young children) than was known even a few years ago. If so, contact your local children's hospital and they can point you in the right direction.

But I expect not. There wasn't in my case, I just had an unusually scary dream-life for a while, for no obvious reason. I did grow out of it before long, though, and I think your son will too. All the best to you both in the meantime.

Answer 3

Went through this with both my girls...the oldest had it the worst. I know my daughter was almost guaranteed to have a night terror if she didn't get a good nap or was overtired. She would start screaming and thrashing around, but she wasn't awake. One time she was in my husband's lap and she was crying for daddy. It was crazy!! The best thing you can do is just what you're doing. Be there for him, but don't try to wake him. Try talking soothing to him and maybe read him his favorite book. Try soothing him back to a calm sleep instead of waking him. Try adjusting your bedtime routine, too. Start calming down earlier, warm bath, soothing music and softly read a few books. Hope that helps!!
Good luck!

Answer 4

Here's a short definition. Look at the link below for the rest of the entry there.

A night terror, also known as sleep terror or pavor nocturnus, is a parasomnia sleep disorder characterized by extreme terror and a temporary inability to regain full consciousness. The subject wakes abruptly from the fourth stage of sleep, with waking usually accompanied by gasping, moaning, or screaming. It is often impossible to fully awaken the person, and after the episode the subject normally settles back to sleep without waking. A night terror can occasionally be recalled by the subject.

Answer 5

I have a 2 year old niece. I used to have these when I was about 5 or 6 ( I'm 15 now) Try and see how he feels. Its like your asleep but you hear comforts but are so scared you can't calm them. You are in the dream still but are conscious to comfort. What I do with my niece who occasionally gets them is sing tell her Aunt Jackie is here she will protect you. Sometimes putting on something soothing will help wake them and calm them. My niece was screaming after one. I put on Jessica Simpson's Reality Tour DVD and she woke up. She calmed down. Sometimes after wards you just need some down time and need to be close to someone. Good luck

Answer 6

Night terrors happen, there isin't anything we can do about them not happening. But you can comfort your child. A night terror is not a nightmare, the best example I can think of is Freddy Kruger Nightmare On Elm Street. Your child is terrified that someone or something is gonna get them, not necessarily Freddy, but you get my point. Take the time to search your childs room before bed, show him you look everwhere and there is nothing there to be afraid of. Try getting like a big teddy bear and tell him that bear will keep out any unwanted visitors. Tell him Mommy is near and won't let anything harm him, he will grow out of it with time.

Answer 7

Yes, I have heard of this and it is an actual condition called 'night terrors'. I'm pretty sure it's something that passes pretty quickly, but of course you don't just want to 'wait'. Talk to your doctor. There may be a sleep aid that can be prescribed that will help your child sleep through the night terrors.

Answer 8

There is nothing you can do for this, I have a 6 year old and this happens at least 1 time a month. All you can do is tell them you are there and it will be ok, and it usually goes away in less that 5 minutes.

Answer 9

I MYSELF HAD THEM SO MY MOM AND GRANDMA GOT ME A "NO MORE NIGHTMARES" MOVIE BUT I ENDED UP GETTING NIGHTMARES FROM THE MOVIE. THAN MY MOM GOT ME A STUFFED ANIMAL THAT SHE CALLED DREAM MOUSE AND TOLD ME THAT HE WAS THERE TO BLOCK AWAY THE BAD DREAMS AND GIVE ME GOOD DREAMS. ANOTHER THING SHE DID WAS WHEN I HAD A BAD DREAM SHE TELL ME TO THINK OF GOOD THINGS (like butterflies ect.) EVEN TODAY WHEN I HAVE NIGHT MARES I STILL SLEEP WITH DREAM MOUSE AND IM 22 WITH A 2YEAR OLD AND A 3MONTH OLD. ANOTHER THING YOU COULD DO IS HAVE HIM WATCH A FUN AND GENTLE MOVIE BEFORE BED OR PRAY FOR GOOD DREAMS (IF THATS FOR YOU) YOU COULD EVEN SING A SONG ABOUT BAD DREAMS GOING AWAY AND HAVING ONLY GOOD DREAMS EVEN ADD A GOOD DREAM DANCE. ALSO TRY SOOTHING MUSIC. HE ALSO MAY HAVE HEARD OR SEEN SOMETHING AND IT TERRIFIED HIM. IF SO HAVE HIM PUT THE BAD MEMORY IN A CONTAINER SEAL IT UP AND HAVE HIM THROW IT AWAY SOME WHERE FAR AWAY LIKE AT A STORE OR SOME WHERE NOT AT HOME. IF YOU HAVE GARBAGE SERVICE THAN HAVE HIM WHATCH THE GARBAGE TRUCK LEAVE WITH IT. IF HES NOT WANTING TO BE TOUCHED THAN MABEY THE BAD THING HAPPEND THAT HURT OR SCARED HIM BY TOUCHING HIM. ANOTHER THING YOU COULD DO IS GET WALKIE TALKIES ONE FOR HIS ROOM AND ONE FOR YOURS THAT WAY HE KNOWS HE CAN ALWAYS REACH YOU. I HOPE THEESE HELP YOU IF YOU NEED MORE HELP PLEASE CONTACT ME AT [e-mail] IVE GOT A LOT OF IDEAS NOT ONLY FROM HAVING KIDS BUT I ALSO WORKED AT A DAY CARE AND RAISED MY 9 YEAR OLD NEPHEW. GOOD LUCK ----MEL

Answer 10

I've heard that when children are dreaming about their past lives, they sometimes scream when they sleep. If you don't believe that, it may be because your child is overly tired when you put him/her to sleep. My little brother does it sometimes. Perhaps it is because he/she is nervous about school. They may be having a dream that their teacher is yelling at them or something. I hope this helps!