What do you about a toddler with "night terrors"?

Question

My 2yr old has been for the past couple months waking up usually around 3am screaming. She usually will calm down after I give her some more water (she takes water in a sippy to bed) but sometimes that doesn't calm her down and she'll have tears running out of her eyes. My aunt said she heard of little kids having what they call "night terrors". Wondering if anyone else has ever dealt with something like this and what I can do to prevent it.

She gets plenty of sleep. She sleeps about 12hrs at night and takes a 2-3 hr nap during the day. She's always been a good sleeper.

She has a care bear she has to sleep that so check that off the list.

She doesn't watch tv so I don't have to worry about her having nightmares from the tv, she doesn't have enough patience to watch tv she's very active.

And it's not night terrors like that she's not awake but her eyes are open. She's awake when she starts screaming b/c she recognizes me and she'll hand her cup back to me when I give her more water. It's just like something scares the jeepers out of her and she freaks out. I'm hoping she grows out of it soon.

And to the first guy to comment you're creepy and I'm married and have no reason to email you!

Answer 1

My son sounds more like your daughter. He's wide awake when we get to him, but screaming or crying like he's really frightened. Some times he doesn't wake and is sleeping before I can even get to his room. He calms down after a few seconds of me being there sometimes I don't even have to pick him up he'll lay down and cover up again by himself. The problem is he doesn't want to go to sleep again. I've tried waiting him out up to an hour and a half, he lays there silently with his eyes wide open. I generally wait a little while then leave he cries a few minutes because he's angry then sleeps the rest of the night. I haven't found a way to stop them or anything they're connected to. I think it's just a stage where they don't understand the concept of a dream, real versus not real. They may not even be scary just confusing when they wake up some where different than they thought. I would just continue to comfort her when she wakes until she learns she's safe unless it gets very bad, every night for more than a week or several times a night for a few nights. Good luck

Answer 2

There are several steps you can take to reduce the chances that your toddler will have night terrors. First, make sure that she's getting enough sleep, since children who go to bed overtired are more likely to experience these sleep disturbances. To avoid fatigue, extend your toddler's nap time, let her sleep a little later in the morning, or put him to bed earlier at night. And be sure to schedule plenty of time for calming bedtime rituals, such as a bath, a song, a book, and lots of cuddling.

Since night terrors usually occur during the first part of the night, you could also try gently rousing your toddler after she's been asleep for an hour or two — about 15 minutes before the typical episode would start. This should alter her sleep pattern enough to head off the night terror at the pass.

Answer 3

My daughter used to have those as well. She would wake up screaming and she wouldn't calm down right away and she wouldn't see me, it would take a few minutes. I would just do the same as you just hug her until she calms down. Reassure her that she is ok and in her bed at home. My daughter finally grew out of it around 4 yrs old. Make sure she doesn't watch anything scary, especially near bedtime. Scary means even those disney movies with witch's, lions and any mean character. They are more scary to some kids than we realize, I had begun to notice that my daughter would have a nightmare after watching the little mermaid or snow white, so I would limit what she watched until she got older.

Answer 4

my now three year old daughter used to get night terrors when she was two. I remember when they started she would start screaming bloody murder in the middle of the night. I would fly out of bed and run to her room half expecting to see someone or something in her room but I never did. I just found a sleeping child sitting up in her bed screaming. One time she starting screaming and it scared my husband so bad he grabbed his gun and ran through the house ready to kill the attacker that he thought was trying to get his daughter. After a week we got used to the screaming and would go into her room and talk to her calmly and quietly, reassuring her that mommy and daddy were there and the screaming would end and silence would engulf the house. This lasted for almost a year, around her third birthday it stopped. And hasn't happened since. We since have found out that my husband and his brothers used to have night terrors too. I also used to sleep walk and talk, so sleep issues run in the family. As long as your daughter isn't harming herself then I wouldn't be concerned, night terrors don't affect development and the children don't even remember them. Good luck and I'm sure it'll pass. My doctor told me that a way to curve night terrors is a good bedtime routine and plenty of sleep. ^.~

Answer 5

I have had two daughters that have both had night terrors the only thing that you can do is just make sure that they don't hurt them self's. They are not awake when it happens so, just be patient & it will get better! They will out grow it! I know that it is scary! The first time that it happend I thought my daughter was having a seizure. I almost called 911. The next day I called the Dr. & asked about it & that is what she said it was.

It will get better!!! I promise!!

Take Care

Answer 6

Night Terrors are when your child seems awake eyes open, walking, talking just can not see reality. My daughter went throught them last year, they stopped right before she turned 4. She would scream for mommy. but not recognize me & run from me. NEVER wake up a child during a night terror, rather rub their back & try to get them back to sound sleep. Unlike Nightmares, night terrors can be a genetic trait. See your daughters doctor they may want her in a sleep clinic, Good Luck!

Answer 7

It doesn't really sound like what they call night terrors, based on what i've read about them. Here's a link to www.webmd.com's explanation on nighmares and how to deal with them. They also talk about night terrors in the article, and you can click on the blue words "night terrors" to be taken to further info abou them. There's more information on the right if you click on the other subjects. You might also want to look at
-tips for a good nights sleep.

Answer 8

My son did this when his father and I first split up ( he was 14 months old. I work overnights and he usually stayed with his dad. When I was off and he stayed with me I noticed it and when I confronted his dad about it he said that he did it there but he just shut the door to his room and let him cry it out. I ended up having to let him sleep with me when he was with me and sitting his dad down and explaining to him that something was going on well he hasnt woken up like this in many months. I just recently started putting back in his room though. ( about a week now) his dad still lets him sleep with him. I know this is probably not much help but let her sleep with you for like a week or two and if it still happens consult your doctor and give her something that will make her feel safe in the room if you are not in the room with her.

Answer 9

My son gets night terrors sometimes. He doesn't wake up fully. All we can do is hold him and talk/sing in calming voices until he falls back asleep. It's scary, but I don't think he remembers them in the morning

Answer 10

A night light. A protective teddy or doll. Calming bedtime stories and no bad stuff on TV.