Very strange-waking and very upset

[mommahnatuk]

My lo is 6 months now, and the strangest thing just happened. She had been sleeping for about an hour and a half, about 30 min before her dream feed (which she rarely) wakes for, and she woke up very upset with almost a panic/hurt cry. She is a fantastic sleeper and goes to sleep on her own very well. I picked her up when shhh with my hand on her chest was making it worse, and she setteled a bit so I took her to my bed to lay with her and comfort her, but that made it worse as well, so I picked her up and vraddrled her and it was like I flipped a switch and she was back to a deep sleep. It was so strange. Has anyone else experienced this?? What is it and what can I do?? There have been a lot of changes in the past week. She decided to start rolling in her swaddle in her basinette, so she is now in her crib in a sleep sack and that has been going very well, I was preparing for it ahead of time with leaving one arm unswaddeled and not swddeling her legs, and putting her in her crib to fall asleep and mivhng her to her basinette after the dream feed-so she was ready to move. Also, I think her teeth are coming in, could of just me the teeth? We have also started rice cereal at breakfast and only a teaspoon and only for breakfast. Her dreamfeed has also started getting shorter and she is waking earlier in the morning. I know I need to be cutting back or out the last nap, but really I can only change so many things on my poor girl at once!!
So, I guess all that to ask "why did she wake up so suddenly and go back to sleep as if I flipped a switch?"

[lilac83]

It could be any of the reasons you posted or a few of them put together. Keep an eye out for any other signs she may not be tolerating the cereal well. Teeth is definitely a possibility, you could try giving her some pain reliever before bed if she seems uncomfortable. If it just happened this one time, I wouldn't worry about it too much. If it keeps happening, then you'll need to investigate the possible reasons a bit more closely.

[snc]

My lo has had these wakings since he was 4 months old. I think it's a night terror from what I can find out about it. They don't happen often but when they do they are quite scary for us. But apparently the child does not know about it. Night terrors happen in the first couple of hours of sleep. He will wake with a piercing cry and be inconsolable for up to 30 minutes. There is nothing we can do because he is actually in a deep sleep and apparently it's best not to try and wake them. We just sit quietly and hold him until, as you say, the switch goes, and he calms down. We slip in a dummy and lay him back in his cot. He's fast asleep and none the worst for wear. I  tried to talk to my health visitor about it who said that it can't happen in children under 4 and that he was just wakening up and shouting for me. He definately is not awake and couldn't care less if I was there or not!!
It's tough for you standing by and listening to it, but good to know that the lo is not aware of it.
Hope they don't happen too often.

[mommahnatuk]

I thought it might be that as well. I did some reading on it, and yes you are right not to wake them, but I also read that an extreme temperature change or a change like that can disrupt the cycle enough and cause it to end sooner without waking them. Something about the brain being fully asleep, but not the body and the night terror is the result.