How do I calm my 4 year old son down?

Question

Occasionally, my son starts screaming at night, but he wont wake up. He tells me that hes haveing bad dreams, but wont tell me any details. He gets tears and cries to the point of throwing up. he wont let me do anything to help him , he just kicks me away. I try to wake him up, but its so hard. Sometimes I have to take him outside to wake him. Then he feels better and goes back to sleep. Then it starts over again. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

It sounds like night terrors to me. My son had them for about a year when he was about 3.

This is different from nightmares. With nightmares, the child wakes up and knows what is going on. With night terrors, it is as you described -- the child does not wake up; he acts as though you are a part of what is frightening him. And it goes on for several minutes.

With my son, it only happened once in the night and not every night. And he seemed to get over it more quickly when I did not try to help. It is a very hard thing to do.

You might want to tell the doctor about it and ask what would be the best thing to do.

Or do an internet search for "night terrors" and see what you can find out.

Answer 2

these are called night terrors

there is some sort of trauma the child is going thru.

my adopted son had them until age 5 -
when he would wake up he would run away from his mom and me for 30-45 seconds and then he would hear my voice and come to its sound - even though he could not 'see' me
finally he would settle down as I held him

what our pediatrician did was to perscribe a decongestant for his cough that would place him in a deeper level of sleep for a week - and that did the trick -

with better rest - he out grew them in another two months

best of luck

Happy New Year

BTW he is 31 years old and doing well!

Answer 3

Same as for an adult, give him a light supper about half an hour to an hour before bed. Apples are great. Anything that's light on the stomach; easy to digest..... A thing I use is an antacid just before going to bed and that has a calming effect.

I know what this is like as we're both parents.

Oh, and calamine, mint, cocoa, and a mass of other things are compliments to the body and go well and make us calm. Ask at the drug store.

Answer 4

From time to time my 4 year son get this way to in his sleep. I usually sit on his bed either rub his back and to him it's ok mommy is here etc, or pick him up and knock him. He is wakes up than you can take from there, i am sure, but he stays asleep just let him know your there you actually don't want to wake him he needs to wake on his own. The important thing whether he is asleep or wake that he is knows you are there and he safe.

Answer 5

My 4yr old doesn't have night terrors, but almost every night he climbs in bed with me. A few things I have tried, and seem to be working....maybe they will work for your son.....Try sleeping with Him in YOUR bed, children feel more comfortable there. If you don't want Him in your bed, try sleeping with Him in his. Be there when he falls asleep. Being winter, I have put flannel sheets on his bed to make sure he stays warm, and it has that snuggling effect, like moms bed. I also have headphones he listens to. Not music but stories. My son has the cinneman bear, an old radio show. Get His mind set on friendly fun thoughts before he falls asleep. These things can be time consuming, but the mental health of your child makes it worth it.

Answer 6

Talk to him while he is sleeping. Tell him to let go of any negative energy or cell memory that is tortuing him. Tell him to let this into the light of the Holy Spirit (if you are religious or spiritual). This may be the only thing that works and has been proven by many people with children that have the same problem. Good luck

Answer 7

Night terrors are caused by occurences in actual life. You should see if there is something bothering him, and put some honey in warm milk for him to drink before he goes to bed. If he freaks out in the middle of the night, dont touch him. Just stand near and sing a soft lullaby or something relaxing. Make sure he has a bright night light in his room too.

Answer 8

I have suffered from "Night Terrors" for a very long time and I think the best thing you can do for your child is to learn about them. Check this web site for some good general information then you take it from there with your primary care doctor. Good Luck
www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/night_terrors.jsp

Answer 9

He is having night terrors, they are not too common, but they do happen. There is nothing you can do but cuddle him and reassure him that everything is alright. You can also go do some research on night terrors!

Answer 10

he might want to easily desire extra interest from you. At abode he really has his brother to handle, yet at an afternoon care like facility he has extra little ones to handle and by being loud he's gaurenteed to get your interest. once you do discipline him you want to be consistent in any respect cases. do not bribe him in the different case even as he does misbehave he will carry out for the bribe. supply him some warnings, even as he hits his very last caution, smack him, he receives the photo. once he's conscious you're literally not messing round he will behave the way he might want to. in case you do smack him (on the butt) (you want to smack him troublesome sufficient to both scare him alittle or damage merely sufficient to get the point throughout (do not bypass wailing on him, its discipline not abuse) and placed him in day out, even as the suitable of day out is over bypass over and search for suggestion from with him, enable him understand what he were given in worry for and enable him understand you nevertheless love him. Punish him or perhaps as punishment is over, make up with him.