Need your help/input guys, think we could be dealing with Night Terrors

[Mariek]

Hi All

I'm just looking for some input/advice from anyone who has experience with dealing with night terrors.

The last week or so Gracie has been waking the same time every night (9.45pm) having what I think are night terrors. She shouting and moaning and rauming about the bed. When we go in she still seems to be asleep (despite the shouting and movement), when we ask her whats wrong, does she want a drink etc she says "I don't know" or "No", but doesn't really seem to be responding coherently. If we get to close or try to soothe her too much she fights us off and kicks out.

This evening I was watching the clock waiting for it (as I has only occurred to be the last few nights that it's the same time) and I immediate when in and roused her, and it took much less time to settle her (although she was still agitated for a while).

I seem to recall reading somewhere (in the dim and distant past!) that it can help to wake them before you know the terror is due (kind of like WTS I suppose). Has anyone got experience with this or has tried this? Did it work?

Any input greatly appreciated. I hate seeing my little girl seeming so distressed

TIA

love

[Colin Macs Mom]

Oh Marie    I'm sorry, I don't have personal experience with it but I've seen several similar posts around where people would do a W2S sort of thing like you said, with success. 

[Ennypen]

Aw Marie xxx

Poor Gracie..

I will be interested to hear what others have found. Woo has only experienced a couple of these in the past.. but even though we suspect what they are they are pretty frightening for us as parents too arent they!

H xx

[Mom to M&M]

Big hugs too. So far DD has only had one night terror - about 4-6 weeks ago on a day after a very short nap and she had also seen fireworks shortly before bedtime. It was quite scary for us even though she was fine. I have also heard of sucess with a sort of W2S but from what I've read/heard it has to be more of a full wakening, not just a partial one, to prevent it. Good luck -  keep us posted.

[Shdef]

Jenn has them as well. I see the night terror as a need so I don't interrupt it. She does sometimes walk and do weird stuff, so I make sure she is safe. I don't wake her or talk to her though, as that causes more distress.

Hugs 

[beamama]

Hi there and sorry your lo is going through this. My ds had night terrors as well--I think he was about 2.5 years old. From what I remember, there is really not much you can do about it. You just have to let it run its course. As you said, when you try to intervene, they push you away and struggle. I used to just sit or stand there and watch and make sure he was ok and not hurting himself in any way. They often stop as quickly as they started.

It is often connected to other sleep issues. Joe was not sleeping well at the time--combination of taking the dummy away, moving to big boy bed, not napping, etc. Our ped gave us this fab sleeping chart and it was really helpful Wish I'd have kept one!

Hang in there and hope they go away soon!
hugs
Bea

[maisy]

Marie my DS used to have these really often. I would just sit in his room and make sure he didnt hurt himself. If I tried to calm him he got so much more distressed so I would just wait it out until he sort of "woke up" and cried out for me specifically. Then I owuld give him a cuddle , re-settle him and maybe offer a little drink. He would then go off to sleep easily

hmm the wake to sleep thing is an idea, I would give it a try if it is the same time every night, Frasers always occurred in the middle of the night so I didn't notice if it was the same time

x x x x

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Megan gets these fairly often - I find they're worse when she's constipated or overtired. MUCH more common when her bedtime happens to be a bit later than usual.  Like others, we can't seem to do much to help.  I usually try to stroke her hair or back and softly say "I'm here" or something similar - not sure if it makes a difference, but I feel better doing SOMETHING.