Just checking to make sure its normal (don't we always do this). My 21mo old is one of the best sleepersin the world. Goes down w/ no problems and almost always sleeps through the night. Once every couple weeks he will wake up and start wimpering. By the time I get in there to check on him- it is an all out freak out. He wants to be held but will flail and wiggle almost out of your arms. He will cry and freak for 5 mins or more all the while doesn't appear to really be awake. It seems like he's there (he'll stand up and walk etc but still crying) and nothing seems to fix it. Then all of a sudden he will lay his head down and take a deep breath and is back to sleep in minutes.
All I want to know is does this sounds like a nightmare? A nighgt terror? Is there anything to try to help him through it faster or just wait it out. I'm sure he's normal :) but just making sure!!
If it's a true night-terror, and it sounds like it is, it should be happening around the same time every night. I read that if you can go in a few minutes before it would happen and rouse him just a little or rock him and then get him back to sleep, it will interupt the pattern. You might need to do that 2-3 times before it's gone for good.
That sounds like night terrors. My 4 year old has them. When he has them he gets up up wimpering/crying/full blown fits and I normally find him standing staring at the wall. According to his doctor the best thing to do is talk to him gently and let him know your there and work toward getting him back in bed. I always stroke my sons cheek and tell him mommys there. Thats what works the fastest for me. Good luck!
It definitely sounds like a night terror. Holding them or trying to wake them up may just escalate things, so the best thing to do is to just stay close, without touching him, and just wait it out. Use a calm voice and reassure him that he is safe and encourage him to lie down again, but don't talk very much. This usually worked with my son when he went through this. Both of my kids experienced night terrors but at different ages, and both grew out of it eventually. It can be quite upsetting to you, but I found that neither child ever remembered it by the next morning. Take care and hang in there!
My son had similar night terrors at around 2 1/2 years old with crying and whimpering. A few times, he would scream out (very scary to see and hear). My hubby or I would go into his room and not fully wake him up; rather, we'd hug him, stroke his head, and tell him that "it's okay, we're here" or something else to comfort and calm him. Our pediatrician told us to wake him up fully to comfort him but some nights, he did calm down quickly on his own and go right to sleep again, esp. after a few minutes of hugs. At 3 1/2 now, we don't get them too often but I hear they're very common with active toddlers. I don't know if you can make them pass quicker, but it sounds like you're doing everything you can to comfort him and let him know you're there for him.
Yes, it definitely sounds like a night terror to me. My daughter who's 5 1/2 still occasionally has them. It's like she is in the middle of a bad dream, but she's wide awake and there's not much you can do but wait it out. For us, the best thing to do is just be there for them and not say anything. I always turn the lights on and just wait it out. The last few that we've had, my daughter will come down stairs crying and freaking out. I have her sit next me while I'm watching tv and she eventually snaps out of it and is ready to go back to bed. I noticed we usually get them if she doesn't get to bed early enough. Maybe you can try putting your son down 30 mins to an hour earlier, especially if he's had a long tiring day. Good luck.
