Author Topic: Why does he scream while sleeping?  (Read 781 times)

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Offline kimbo613

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Why does he scream while sleeping?
« on: May 19, 2010, 04:45:16 am »
DS is 17 months.  I wish I could tell you how long this has been going on, but I can't remember.  Maybe 2 weeks, maybe a month?  It doesn't happen very often, maybe every few days, like 1-2 times a week.

So every so often, he will just cry hard, but it's very brief.  Like a minute or two.  It's the kind of cry that says "I need you" kind of similar to when he was dropping his lovey out of the crib.  He doesn't even ramp up to it, just screams and tapers off.  He's quiet, or quieting down on his own before I can get to him.  Tonight it happened about 20 minutes after putting him to bed, but it will sometimes happen around 10 or 11, or sometimes 3AM.

I've never actually checked on him when it happens.  I am terrified that he is awake and I will get him upset by going in.  When I go in after I'm sure he's asleep, he still has his lovey and everything is well.

Only new things I can think of is a little shyness, like hiding behind my leg, even sometimes around DH, but I think that might be for attention.  No new teeth that I can tell.  He's actually been napping well and consistently for probably the first time in his life :)  It's just so weird, I'm not sure what to make of it.
-Kim



I breastfed for a total of 2yrs, 3months, and 1week

Offline firsttimemummy

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Re: Why does he scream while sleeping?
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2010, 06:51:21 am »
Could be a teething pain or a bad dream? DS is 16 months old and is finally starting to be a bit shy around some strangers (he used to ask EVERYONE for a cuddle!!!) so I think it must be the age where it happens!  DS has cried in his sleep once or twice, for a second or two. One night we has really crying so I went to him - he was still asleep when I went in so I just picked him up and gave him a cuddle and he settled again; pretty sure this was a bad dream  :-\
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Offline becky1969

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Re: Why does he scream while sleeping?
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2010, 17:04:07 pm »
 The 20 minutes after putting him to bed sounds like he jolts awake and does a little cry from that, but he just goes right back to sleep.  His sleep may be disrupted due to teeth, which is why he's 'waking' more, but lucky for you it's not a full waking! He just cries out because he's been jolted awake, but luckily falls back to sleep on his own.

Think you're doing the right thing letting him be.  :)
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Offline kimbo613

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Re: Why does he scream while sleeping?
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2010, 20:49:28 pm »
I wondered about a bad dream...or maybe like that sensation of falling when you are just going to sleep..??

Yes, very thankful he is a good self-soother and goes back to sleep on his own.  I guess maybe it's not a huge deal, it just scares the crap out of me when it happens :)

*Happened again right after bedtime tonight.  Almost exactly the same time as last night.  Did not take a good nap today either.  A loud noise woke him right about 1hr10min.
« Last Edit: May 20, 2010, 02:28:40 am by kimbo613 »
-Kim



I breastfed for a total of 2yrs, 3months, and 1week