Author Topic: Any info on night terrors? (Read 1022 times)

MyPiggie · « **on:** June 25, 2007, 02:42:58 am »

Let me begin by saying that my son has never been a great sleeper, a trait I think he got from me. However, by a year things had improved greatly (thank you baby whisperer books). Then at 18 months, a new sleep problem occurred...unlike anything I had experienced before. About 4 hours into his sleep, my son would start screaming hysterically(not crying or whimpering like before). Even stranger, he still appeared to be alseep. His eyes were closed except for an occasional flutter open. He was absolutely inconsolable. I patted his back, picked him up, walked him around, talked to him sang, offered pacifiers and bottles. Nothing worked and this went on for 10 minutes to an hour. Eventually, he would calm down. After so many nights of this, I called the doctor and the nurse told me that he had night terrors and that it would probably go away with time...not much I could do but be there for him. That is a hard piece of advice for a mom to get...so to all moms who may have dealt with something similar...Any Advice?

oilerbaby · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2007, 02:51:10 am »

Hi there - I am so sorry your son is having night terrors - they are horrible and you feel so helpless just sitting there and not being able to do anything to comfort them. My oldest had night terrors when she was around 2/3. I looked on the internet for hours and tried many things. She would always have them around the same time every night and apparently this is how most kids who have night terros are (sounds like your son is around the 4 hour mark into sleep?). What you can try is go in about 1/2 hour before the night terror usually starts and rouse him out of sleep, you don't want to totally wake up him but you want to get him out of the deep stage of sleep. We used to sit up Sydney and give her a drink of water and this would rouse her just enough to bring her out of that deep sleep but not enough that she wouldn't doze right back off. After trying many, many things this is the only thing that worked for her. We did this for about a month (if I remember correctly as she's 7 now!) and the terrors did stop. Give it a try and I really hope it works for you because I know how awful the night terrors are. Keep me posted!!!