Just wondering how you deal with a two and a half year old with night terrors?

Question

My son has been waking up during the night and my partner and I thought he was just attention seeking (he wanted to sleep with Mummy and Daddy). But I put him in with me in the night, he woke up screaming and even though I tried to comfort him all he wanted to do was pull away from me, and he did the same to his Dad. He really scares me when he does that, and I feel so sorry for him. My mum suggested that it might be night terrors, I'm just wondering if this is it, it's as if he's asleep and doesn't even realise that I am there, I am worried about him, I asked the doctor, but they had nothing to suggest how to cope with it, if anyone has any ideas please let me know, it would be much appreciated :)

Answer 1

My daughter used to get them on occasion, usually when she would have to go to the bathroom but wasn't fully awake. It's like being trapped in between sleep and wakefulness.

Best thing is to let him be, touching and grabbing can sometimes make them worse but some children do respond to being held firmly as long as you talk very softly and soothingly. Let him ride it out and don't worry he should out grow it in time. It's very frightening, but just stay calm and make sure he doesn't go anywhere or do anything to hurt himself.

Try to get him to go potty before bed and get him to sleep early or nap during the day so he won't be too tired. Best of luck and try to relax, everything is fine.

Answer 2

Both of my children used to have them. My daughter grew out of them. My son's was more of a medical issue. I used to put them on the living room floor and play a quiet tape and wait for it to end. Then I would rock them back to sleep. Sometimes it would take up to two hours. The kids would wake up in the morning as if nothing had happened. I heard one person say that they used to wake the child up about a half hour after he fell asleep and let him use the bathroom, get a drink and then do back to bed. I never tried that, or knew to try it at the time.
With my son, he used to have trouble breathing through his nose, and would quit breathing for a second or two and then go into these terrors. He would wake up the next morning wet. What is ironic about it it started at 18 months, right after his day care center had a case of CO poisoning. Everyone in the building had to evacuate and be treated. He was just fine, but shortly after the terrors started. When I took him for his 4 year old check-up, since he hadn't grew out of it yet, the doctor had his adenoids xrayed. They were enlarged. We had them removed and our nights became peace full again.
So it could be something that runs in the family, since both of my kids had them, a traumatic situation, a medical issue or a combination

Answer 3

I disagree with the answerer that thinks that it is the devil trying to get in. That sort of talk is complete nonsense and of no help to anyone night terrors in toddlers is completely normal. My 3 yo started telling me a story about a lion chasing him. I asked him when this happened and he said, "when I'm asleep". That says to me that he is having vivid dreams (that he later fleshes out with detail I'm sure) in the night. We let him come into bed when he is upset to settle and then put him back to bed. From his point of view it must be horrible to suddenly face this new reality in your mind where lions chase you. By the time we are adults we accept dreams and are instantly relieved when we wake that it is over. For a child they might not realise that it really is over. So we make him feel safe and warm for a while. Good luck.

Answer 4

I feel for ya completely. Just recently, my two year old woke up screaming bloody murder and it was like she was walking and talking, but only her body was there. She wouldn't tell me any thing and then she started bashing her head against the wall screaming, " Don't take my mommy away". She cried so hard that she made herself throw up while she was asleep. Finally, she woke up and was looking at us and smiling like nothing happened. She will just wake up like this all the time. I get so scared to leave her in her room with her big brothers and sisters because they are only 6, 4, and 3. But all the other four kids get jealous when I let her sleep in my bed. The scariest time though was when she woke up saying " he's gonna hurt you, he's gonna hurt you!" and started beating on my belly because I am seven months pregnant and then she just snapped out of it and kissed the baby boy in my tummy. I was scared out of my wits. Now I just shake her hand fast but gently until she wakes up. It also helps to pray with them before they go to sleep. We ask god every night to help them all have good dreams that their guardian angel puts in their heads. GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 5

Yes it is night terrors. There isn't much you can do other than make sure the child is alright, it goes away after awhile. Some "schools of thought" say they are caused by growth spurts/and the fact that the brain is becoming more and more active. Just leave him in his own bed when he has the "moments' they will go away eventually.

Answer 6

Just before he goes to sleep read him a really nice story or you can even buy books about other little kids or characters having bad dreams and it shows how they deal with it. My 4 year old was having regular nightmares and I started reading him really nice books and when I left the room I told him to think of the book that i just read him. This way he was going to sleep with nice happy thoughts and it give him time to calm and wind down. This worked for me and it also worked for my friends little boy too.

Answer 7

Coming from someone that used to suffer night terrors as a kid... he will definitly grow out of them.... Has he been known to also sleep walk, or talk alot in his sleep? Those were others signs if they are actually night terrors. You must understand one thing, the reason he is pulling away from you is because in his dream, you are not what he is seeing. My mom used to complain of the same things. But after i got a lil older i grew out of them. All you can really do is let him ride it out, nothing you physically can do is gonna make it stop... Its not something that you can help him snap out of, And from what i hear the effects it has on someone that is forced to snap out of it are not pleasent. So just comfort him what lil bit he allows you to...... Cold wash cloth used to help me... and try to put him back to bed. And hope that like me he grows out of them.

Answer 8

I know what you're going through

My son is almost 3. He has had them about once or twice every few months since he was born. All we can do is hold him and make sure he doesn't hurt himself until they are over. We cannot fully wake him. I think we're more scared after then he is.

Answer 9

Don't let him sleep in your bed or that will be another problem you have to deal with.

If he wakes up with a nightmare just go in his room and comfort him. Maybe get him a nightlight and a stuffed animal to sleep with too.

Answer 10

my daughter is 10 and went thru nite terrors. she would wake up crying and say "look mommy, there is bugs on my hands". she was about 2-3 when this happened. it will eventually pass.