'Night Terrors???

**Seacretsquirrel** · 25-07-2010 08:49

Hey you wonderful folks of BH land does anyone have any experience with night terrors in a 16 month old?

My DS has woken twice now in a week once on last Saturday while we were camping (I am sure the other campers must have thought I was killing him) and then again on Thursday night. He sort of starts my waking up and having a grizzle (as is normal for him and usually he either goes back to sleep or I go in and refill his water bottle which he'll have a drink out of then cuddle

and back to sleep) but when we were camping he did the norm then hopped up and had a wander around the tent then just started screaming - like he was in real pain or something I picked him up and he was thrashing aroung to get away arching he back and pushing me away DH and I stripped him off and checked him over for any signs of bites or something and he just screamed the whole time. This went on for about 10 mins then he spotted my sister (who came caming with us) and put his arms up for a cuddle and promptly stopped screaming and cuddled in - poor wee bugger was exhausted. He spent the rest of the night in my bed while poor DH was relegated to the floor next to DD

Then on thursday night he did the same thing grizzled so I waited a few mins to see if he would settle and then we to get him a drink - my sister was still up - she was flying home a couple of hours later - and she had gone into him and he just wandered out of his room as she opened his door he was walking like a drunk sailor then he lay on the floor and then pushed up into a bridge (hands and feet on the floor back way up in the air) and started screaming - I picked him up and tried to calm him but he did the same as previously pushing away so I put him back onthe floor and he imediately went back to the bridge position and continued screaming I picke him up and took him through to DH (so he didn't wake DD) and he screamed for about 10 mins - I blew in his face a couple of times and he stopped long enough to draw breath and then started screaming again but finally stopped.

Sorry this is a bit of an epic

but is this night terrors - was thinking he might be a bit young

I will be taking him to the Drs on Monday to he the pead to get him checked out he also has a cold ATM so want to get his ears checked too so with anything medical aside has anyone experienced anything similar with a 16 month old?

Thanks in advance

**waterlily** · 25-07-2010 08:53

I had night terrors from 12 months mine lasted many years, I still get them as an adult when I'm going though tough times.

It's a good idea to see his pead not just your GP as they have alot more knowledge in this field.
Good luck.

**Seacretsquirrel** · 25-07-2010 08:55

Thanks Waterlilly The Dr we see for the kids is a pead - he is the only one we see the last time we went to another DR she gave the kids the wrong dose for the Antibiotics resulting in 2nd and 3rd rounds for both kids

so not going there again. Good to know that night terrors can occur in younger kids though I hope it doesn't continue for years not sure my nerves will cope =D

**RoarsomeMum** · 25-07-2010 09:25

DD has had night terrors from 22 months.. She has them about once a week now and more if we are in an unfamiliar situation. (the first she ever had was camping as well)

She is half asleep half awake.. and she SCREAMS and nothing will comfort her, and attempts to do so actually make the situation worse. She shakes, she sweats, she ends up satched with tears (and usually so do I because I feel so helpless.)

We were told not to try to hold her or physically comfort her as it makes her worse (as in she reacts stronger and it lasts longer..) I tend to surround her with pillows and sit to the side singing lulabyes or reading her a story.. I make sure no-one else comes in. - If I can get her back to sleep she remembers nothing in the morning..

Our Ped said she will grow out of it.. (I hope they are right) I would def see your Ped (well not your Dodgy one! try to find a different one perhaps?) 10 mins seems really short for a NT but I am only going by our experiences.. Hope it is a simple easy fix medical prob!

BIG HUGS either way

It's scary hey..

**lovemythreechildren** · 25-07-2010 09:34

My DD had them from about 18 mnths and she had them almost everynight, then it was a few times a week at about 3, now she is 6 and will have one maybe once a month if that, When she does it there is nothing i can do to help her she thrashes around screaming, sweating and one time i always remember she was looking around the room and looked over my shoulder and then looked me in the eye and said ''they are going to get you'' that scared me as her eyes are glassy and shes obviously still asleep, i thought it was nightmares but after seeing a doctor and research of my own its defiantly night terrors which is different from nightmares. So your child will slowly grow out of it, its very scary and makes you think somethings wrong but infact most of the time there isnt GBH to you and your child.

**Seacretsquirrel** · 26-07-2010 08:07

Bumpity bump for the weekday hubbers

**SassyMummy** · 26-07-2010 10:00

Yeah, pretty sure night terrors start somewhere around that age. I think age 2 is about the main time it happens.

DD had them - she looked like she was possessed.

What can you do? Nothing. You've just got to sit by and watch and make sure they don't hurt themselves... but don't touch them. They're not awake, but they're not dreaming either - they're kinda in this weird limbo between the two. Touch them and it freaks them out even more - because they don't know you're there, but can feel you... that'd be like someone stroking your back now, but nobody being there. It'd freak you out too.

It usually stops as they get older. DD no longer has them.

**headoverfeet** · 26-07-2010 11:12

I'm on my phone but my son started experiencing night terrors at the same age they were solved when we changed his diet, he only has night terrors now when he eats something he should not. Preservatives are a big trigger for him.

**Myztik** · 26-07-2010 11:20

My DS2 had them every second night from about 12mnths onwards. He has the very occasional one now if he's had an extremely big day or lots of sugary foods.

I found the best (but hardest) thing to do is to just make sure they cant hurt themselves and sit it out. It's horrible feeling so helpless and it's heartbreaking when they look you in the eye and scream at you to get mummy

but any physical contact will make it worse. Just keep reminding yourself that they dont remember it when they do wake up.

There is another thread on here somewhere where I linked to a heap of info on the difference between nightmares and night terrors. Will try find it for you.