my son screaming at night?

Question

he falls asleep for a couple of hours then wakes screaming and he wont let any of us comfort him, hes keeping the whole house awake ( probably neighbours too ) heeeeeeeeeelp

hi all sorry he has just turned 2 in nov and he has oly just started with the waking and screaming

Answer 1

You don't say how old he is but it sounds like he is having nightmeres. This does happen quite often when a child is around 3 years old. I would take him to the doctor.
Hope this gets better for you and him.

Answer 2

If he sleeps first for a short time and then wakes bolt upright almost staring through you and screaming then it sounds like a night terror but can't tell from your question whether this is the case. My son gets them and you can't do anything other than be there, talk to him calmly and wait until he comes out of it. I've found that putting on the TV or carrying him into a room where there is a TV will distract him out of it sooner. These are quite distressing to watch but your son won't remember anything in the morning.

If your son is screaming all night for another reason then it may be a behavioural problem you need to tackle and a GP referral to a community paediatrican (I work for one!) may help.

Answer 3

That is happening to me too but my son is 1. My son has been having gas sometimes and sometimes he just happens to wake up and he cries probably because he is in the dark all alone. I let him cry for 5 minutes and he sometimes will fall asleep. If the crying escalates to frantic screaming then I walk in and keep the lights off, pick him up and I do not say a word. I go to the rocking chair for a few minutes to hug and rock him, then I put him into bed and say nigh-night and walk out.

Answer 4

Well, you don't say how old he is. If he's little, talk to his pediatrician. He's probably having night terrors and isn't awake when you are trying to comfort him. So just put the lights on and play some soft music until he wakes up; then comfort him. If he's a teenager, that's a different scenario. Good luck.

Answer 5

How old is your son? and when he wakes up screaming does he act like he doesn't know who you are? If so it is most likely night terrors. I had this when I was little about 2 years old. All you can really do is let him cry it out. Eventually he falls back to sleep don't he? Good luck!

Answer 6

Depending on his age he could be having night terrors witch are diffrent than nighmares. They are far more vivid & scary to a child(& adults). The next time it happens go into his room, seeing as he wont let you comfort him, just let him know you are there & it was just a dream. Another thing that worked for me was to give my kids a flashlight. If they woke up scared, they turned it on to chase the "monsters" away. Good luck

Answer 7

Wake him up just enough to talk to him so he understands you, but not enough that he doesn't fall back to sleep straight away. Turn him over and re puff his pillow, tell him your there if he needs him and that you love him. Don't try to comfort him or make a big fuss as this makes it worse. It won't last very long, but will come back occassionally. Stop worrying and relax.

Answer 8

If he is a toddler 2-4 yrs, it's night terrors. Basically, their little imaginations begin to kick in and GROW!!!! The bad things they are now beginning to comprehend can root in their little heads and grow into terrible dreams. Be sure to monitor what he watches and what any older siblings may be doing or saying around him. (Booger-bears, boogie man, ghosts, dogs, scooby doo cartoons with scary things all can trigger these thoughts in young children) Also if you warn them often about strangers or kidnappers they will do this. It's pretty normal just comfort him/her and try to make them talk to you. Sometimes if its bad it requires a doctor..

Answer 9

As most other people have suggested, it sounds like it is night terrors. They are quite frequent in toddlers/preschoolers. Sit with him to make sure he doesn't hurt himself, but DO NOT wake him. In the morning he most likely doesn't know he what happend in the middle of the night.

Answer 10

Don't worry about it, he's having nightmares. But its normal in kids as their brains are still growing which means their brainwaves are very active during sleep and thus are more prone to nightmares and sleepwalking. I did the same thing when I was a child. Might be worth speaking to your doc to reassure yourself.