How do I cure my children of their night terrors and nightmares?

Question

They are 9mon and 5.....and our 5 year old even sleepwalks. We have to put locks on all the outside doors so she can't get out of the house in the night. She ends her destination in our bed. Our baby is now starting to have what we think are night terrors. It is heridetary, but there must be something we can do. Should we take them to the pediatrician? Can she fix it? We haven't had a full night's sleep in 5 years! Does anyone else have kids that have nightmares every single night????

Answer 1

My child had night terrors. This is what we were instructed by her therapist (child had other behavioral problems). We followed the instuctions and noticed a decrease in the night terrors right away. The child hasn't had any terros in several months, only having them about 3 or 4 times a year now (as opposed to 4 or 5 times a week).

Keep child in a safe place - no sharp objects in bedroom.

Do NOT try to wake or talk to child during night terrors - it only aggrivates them more.

Do NOT put socks or footed pajamas on the child and do NOT tuck in sheets or blankets. I'm not sure why this worked but the instant we stopped letting her sleep in socks, the terrors decreased.

Keep a food and activity journal to track trends in terrors.

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Our pediatrician didn't believe our child was having night terrors because she was so young (starting at 18 months). We took her to a therapist and we even vidoe taped the 2 hour long night terrors we thought she was having. The therapist confirmed what we thought and we followed her advice. It's been working for several years. Don't be surprised if your Dr. doesn't do anything or believe you. You may have to get a second opinion.
Good luck!

Answer 2

It can be hereditary in some cases, but yes I would take them to the ped for some suggestions or a referral. I'm no professional but with my son who is now 2 1/2...he rarely wakes up during the night and only does on occasion and I would be concerned if he did. He had an issue one time where he woke up in a crying fit when he was about a year old and I read a lot about night tremors because he didn't calm down when we went it to his room....but it hasn't happened since. Sleepwalking and night tremors are different, in most cases of night tremors they aren't themselves and can't even recognize the people around them as being there...you usually have to let them just work their way of of it and keep them from harming themselves or anyone else in the process. But sleepwalking is more of a calm act, they wander until they end up somewhere and just go back to sleep. Definitely get it assessed for their sake and yours...even having a 9 month old in the house should allow almost a full nights sleep. Good luck!

Answer 3

You are right that night terrors run in families. I am sorry to hear that your 9 month old is having them already, you must be so tired. Remember that night terrors are marked by the inconsolable crying, fighting being held, being disoriented and not recognizing mom or dad. If your 9 month old is just waking up and screaming for you, and is comforted when you arrive, this would be a common development at her age, having separtation anxiety. If it is night terrors already here are some things that helped us: first put them to bed early, don't let them get overtired, this is a sure recipe for a night terror. 9 month olds should sleep about 12 to 14 hours a day including naps and a 5 year old 10 to 12 hours. It seems like a lot of sleep, but they need it. The more night terrors, the more sleep deprived they get, and they just have more night terrors. Also if your daughter seems to have night terrors a regular time each night, 11 to 12 o clock every night for instance, then wake her up at 10:30. Just for a couple of minutes, enough to disrupt her sleep pattern a little, it is great for heading off night terrors for the rest of the night. If you don't notice a real pattern, then just know that night terrors usually happen within 4 hours of falling asleep so just wake her right before you are going to go to bed yourself, and that might help. We created a little nest for our son, propping pillows around him and under his knees and tucking his blanket around his chest. This seemed to help a lot, I had noticed him startle a couple of times right before night terrors, and feeling cradled stopped that. Most Doctors will tell you that your child will just grow out of it sometime before they are 12, most won't prescribe sleep medications. Check the link for a natural cure that might help.

Answer 4

I agree that even a nine month old can have night terrors! It is genetic, and can be accompanied by talking in the sleep, sleep walking etc... I would contact your pediatrician, as there are a few things than can try that are not too drastic, especially with the baby. When my son experienced this, I think he was ten months, the doctor told us to give him children's benedryl before bed, as it changes their sleep patterns. One night of doing this and they were gone!!

I know this may have been a rare case that it worked out so well, but I would definetly talk to your pediatrican. As I'm sure you already know, the best thing to do is make sure they are safe throughout the whole process. Best of luck!

Answer 5

Most of the time they act out what there dreaming while there asleep I'd put a video camera in your 5 year olds room to see if she toses and truns alot she could be having a bad dream witch causes her to Subconsciously get up and walk away from them this is normal so don't freak and I'm not sure what a pediatrician can do about night terrors I'd take your children to see a sleep specialest...Best of wishes

~Shadow~

Answer 6

I am apalled at the weird answers people give for points!

I maybe wrong but I was told 9 month is too young to have night terror - so it maybe more like indigestion or some other pain that is causing the lil one to wake up. You need to talk to your pediatrician.

For your 5 year old, you should try to wake her up, comfort her and slowly lead her back to her own bed. If need be, sit with her for a while when she is falling asleep. You also need to bring to the pediatrician's attention about her sleep walking - it may end up hurting her.

Sometimes sleep walking also indicates something is bothering her - maybe at school/ daycare or with friends - so talk to her as well.

Answer 7

9 months old is NOT to young for night terrors. my son suffered with them EVERY night from the age 8months through until 2+1/2. We spent a small fortune on sleep therapists and peadatricaians who specialise in sleep paterns. All to no avail. My sons terrors were so bad (every 45 mins) they wanted him for reserch into night terrors and to trail new medications, we declined. He was prescribed every sedative available and nothing worked. One night we were told to give him DIAZAPAM, it worked however my husband and i got even less sleep than usual worring he wasn't going to wake at all.
Now I know you wont belive this next bit but i swear its true (and so does everyone who knows what we went through) One night it was cold and he slept with socks on is feet...NO TERROR, we tried it again the next night AGAIN...NO TERRORS. About a month later still with socks every night he had a terror. we found that part of the sock at the toe had a hole in it... There are triggers as well that make him have them still, (he's 4 now) like after he's recent bday party he was sooooo tired and had them evey 45mins that night. If he ever has a day sleep he wakes with a 20-30min terror. I found great websites with heaps of info, but none said socks!!!! We will never know if it was a coincedence and he actually just out grew them that very same night but we dont take any chances and he'll be wearing socks as long as he's under our roof!!!!!!!! Best of luck to you and please try the socks before anything else. its only my therory but you just never know!!! (exscuse some spelling as spell check isnt working right now) Also NEVER try and wake your child from a terror as this start the whole sleep cycle again, dont listen to people how say they are behavioral as my boy is ans always has been a little treasure. also i printed some fact sheets of the net and put them into clear sleves so when people didnt know what they were talking about i could have reserched FACTS on hand. Far out i could go for hours on this topic............. good luck

Answer 8

Is your 5 year old watching a lot of TV or playing video games? There could be content that comes back to "haunt" her mind. OR, and I think this is more likely, minds that are overly stimulated during the day have difficulty "shutting down" during sleep. Does your child watch TV until bedtime? Is she overly involved in activity or too busy? A nice bedtime store, cuddling, a nice visit with mom and dad, calm activities and not too much visual stimulation might help their brains shut down for better sleep. Also, if there is alot of conflict in your house - arguing, tension, fighting etc the stress will impact your children's ability to sleep. Some night walking and night terrors might be hereditary, but my bet is they are responding to input during each day.

Answer 9

my son had night terrors but they eventually stopped. I wouldn't put him on any meds...this is a natural thing that happens to children. I don't know about it being hereditary, when my son had then my mom said she had never seen this before. Me or my sister never had then when we were little.... Just make sure you are there to comfort your son and try to get him to come out of it. Hold him close and talk to him softly telling him its o.k. Its a scary thing to see but, they will come out of it. As for your daughter im not to familure with sleepwalking. Again im not to sure about giving young children serious medications for sleepwalking (if there are any) i would talk to the pediatricain and see what they say, have you seen her sleepwalk or do you know she is just coming into your room at night? Maybe she just doesn't like her room. Put nightlights in her room and in your room....always sleep with your doors open. maybe cut down on t.v. during the day and get more physical play outside during the day.

Answer 10

My 3 year olds doctor told us to give her 1 to 2mg. of mealtoine a natrual herb found in the vitiamin section of almost any store.Also said that when she comes to our room send her back to hers. The mealotine is very good at helping her relax if taking 30 minutes before bed.If this doesn't work he said sleeping pills. Thankful it is working just fine.