She wakes up screaming, what do we do?

Question

I babysit staying all night at my daughter's three nights a week. Occasionally, my 18 mo. old granddaughter wakes up crying , screaming and hollering her own language with "Mommmmy" puntuating the tirades.

Last night it was off and on for four hours. Her Mom, Dad, and I tried five separate times to calm her down and we left her to scream a few times as well.

She stops for ten or 15 minutes and starts up again. It's not a pain, cold, or wet/soiled scream. It's eerie, trancelike or even like she's still asleep. She doesn't acknowldege us and her eyes are kind of vacant. Is she dreaming? Should we be concerned? Should we try to wake her up?

I can manage fine because I can take a nap when she and her four year old sister do but my daughter and her hubby have to get up at five to go to work/school .

It breaks my heart to see her so inconsolable. She is always fine in the morning though a bit tired. Help!

I read some of the answers and she IS trying to get her last two "pointy" teeth through and she does seem to howl, "Owie!!!!" I am thinking a combo of night terrors and teeth?

Answer 1

I had night terrors as a kid and can tell you they are the most terrifying experience. I am told that most toddlers dont remember them but I vividly remember two. Running out of bed and dropping on the floor kicking and screaming of which I could not be calmed down. I know that I was sent to a neuroligist and a sleep counselor/study, etc...

It passed with time but still to this day (I am 29 now) I still can get that feeling in the middle of the night that I feel the onset of one.

My suggestion would be to try and play some soothing music (ocean waves, lullabies, etc..) on a repeat on a cd player through the night. Also, you say that kids nap during the day....is it dark when they nap in their room or wherever they nap? If not, then try to recreate the napping scenario at night. Keep a lamp on in the room.

You could also try to cut nap time down during the day, take the kids out to the park during the day, play ALOT. Have their little brains stimulate ALOT during the day and as evening approaches start to wind them down slowly. That way, when it's time for bed they get deep into R.E.M sleep and hopefully it will pass.

I know, for my son at least, on the weekends we dont want him to nap. We only see him and play with him for a few hours a night during the work week and cherish the time on the weekends we have with him.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

We had a son who did that from the time he was under a year old to a few months before his little brother was born. He just suddenly stopped, so we figure it must have been a phase or related to something that happens to all people when they sleep, just he was reacting differently to it. It's night terrors and some people are more prone to it than others, but many children will have them at some point. It is scary and you feel so bad for them, especially when you can't wake them from it, but you just have to try to help the child get through it. Help them get back to sleep and do not punish them for a night terror; they can't help those.

Answer 3

My daughter was doing similar things recently. The trancelike state you mention reminds me of night terrors. They're different than nightmares...and they're very common in toddlers. Do a search for night terrors and see if the rest of the symptoms resemble your granddaughter. Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I am going to leave a link at the bottom here, that might help to answer some of your questions about night terrors.
My suggestion would be to get a noise machine that plays soothing sounds, such as a waterfall, or birds. Something relaxing and calming. Perhaps this will help her stay asleep and at least help to reduce the terrors.
Good Luck, I hope you find your answer here!

Answer 5

I heard somethign about night terrors in children but not at that age. Maybe there issomething in that room that scares the child?? You pretty much just have to try anything and everything t figure out what will work. Have you thought about teething I hear the sharp 4 teeth are the hardest for them and hes about at that age... try giving some oral suspension or motrin before he goes to bed.. it cat hurt any to try GOOD LUCK

Answer 6

My best friend's daughter does the same thing!! She is 20 months old. She doesn't register anything you say to try to calm her or help her. It's like she's still asleep. She loves me like a second mother and wouldn't even come to me!! You just have to console her to til she stops crying. She will grow out of it.

Answer 7

This sounds like night terrors. Your granddaughter is actually still asleep. My son started having these right after my ex and I divorced. His ped told us that this was normal after something traumatic (like a divorce). When he has these, we wake him up (calmly calling his name while holding him in my arms, once he's awake I explain that it's alright, mom is here and nothing is going to hurt him, his mom and dad love him, etc) Normally he goes back to sleep just fine after that.

Answer 8

Unfortunately what you're describing sounds like night terrors. My youngest went through this too. She IS sound asleep and there is not much you can do for her. My daughter outgrew this after a while. I wish you luck, because it is the most heartwrenching sound in the world!

Answer 9

Try music in her room. My daughter used to wake up around 3am everynight crying and my pediatritian reccommended putting a cd on repeat to comfort her. You start the music when you tuck her in and it palys all night. It worked, you just have to find a cd that plays only calming music or else she will want to wake up and sing.

Answer 10

Sounds like she may be having nightmares. Try leaving a light on in her bedroom at night so when she awakens she will feel safer. You may also need to try letting her sleep in the same room with her sister and tell her that big sister will keep her safe.