Waking up Screaming bloody murder

[nasah86]

So this is my first time on here so bear with me please.

I have a daughter, Layla, who is 15 months. She has been a pretty good sleeper until recently. About a week ago she has been waking up @ 4am, give or take 30min, and just does this noodly stretching thing while screaming on the top of her lungs. At first I thought she was having a bad dream or maybe even teething would cause this. She has always been a healthy kid, never been sick once.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. Could really use some sleep and not looking forward to tonight...

[*Jo*]

sounds like a night terror hun, weve had these when OT has set in or just majorly unsettled. its awful and theres not much to be done about it.

what happens when you try to comfort her? how long does it go on for?

[<Catherine>]

I agree Jo, in that it does sounds like a night terror, but these *usually* happen in the early stages of sleep - it's not normal for night terrors to occur so late into the night. However, the stretching thing and screaming is exactly what DS does when he's having a night terror.

If it is a night terror then, as Jo says, unfortunately there's nothing really that you can do, other then try to find the cause. It's ALWAYS down to OT with DS. Always.

What sort of routine is she currently on?

(Oh, and welcome to the site! )

[~Karen~]

Sounds like OT to me too 

[nasah86]

whats DT and OT?

When I hear her crying I usually go in and pick her up and comfort her. It sometimes takes up to 10 minutes or so just to calm her down. And it is always around 4am. After she gets calmed down I'll lay her in her crib and rub her back till she falls asleep.

Not really sure on what you mean by routine but i'll take a guess at it.
8am wake-up
8:30ish breakfast
12 lunch
1pm nap (usually around 30-60min)
3 snack
5 supper
6-7 2nd nap (usually around 30-60min)
9 snack, bath
10 bedtime

[<Catherine>]

whats DT and OT?

Have a read here: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=51772.msg357437#msg357437

She definitely needs a change to her routine, that's a very late bedtime and therefore a short night. I need to dash now but will be back later.

[nasah86]

ok, so i figured out OT and that does make some sence if you think thats too late of a bed time, but still cant figure out what DT means...

[*Jo*]

I cant see DT anywhere in the thread, do you mean DS? that means Dear Son

[<Catherine>]

Ok.

Have a read here to get an idea of sample routines for your DD's age range http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164033.msg1830622#msg1830622

She's not getting enough day sleep at a time and probably needs a one of her naps to be longer and one to be shorter. 2 short naps are leaving her OT come bedtime. This link should help http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=163278.0 , she's probably heading towards needing just one long nap.

Whilst she's so OT I think I would suggest reducing her first A time and putting her down for her first nap earlier to see if that gives you a longer first nap.