Any One Have Experience with Night Terrors?

Updated on September 15, 2008
L.G. asks from Woodbridge, NJ
5 answers

My daughter recently started having night terrors and frankly I am at my wits end. my husband did some research and we know a big cause is stress and boy has she had a lot of that lately. I have Post partum depression, she is dealing with a new baby in the house as well as school starting. I am up all night just about with the baby so I am not sleeping well which in turn can make me snappish and irritable. She has seen me go to the Er twice for depression (I also have clinical depresion and was in a program over the summer for it) and sees me crying a lot. We try and do special things with her and she has been a big help with her brother so far and I make sure she hears me telling others that she is a good big sister and helps me a lot. i feel like this is my fault even though I do know that depression and Post partum is no one's fault. I feel helpless to help my daughter. I will be seeing a counselor on an individual basis and my hospital does offer a support group I will be attending. I just need some practical advice about the night terrors

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L.M.

answers from New York on

Although my daughter was never diagnoised with "night terrors", I believe she suffered from them. She would start screaming in the middle of the night, sometimes her eyes would be open, but I know that she was sleeping. My daughter was younger arround 2, and she did out grow it.

I would go into her room and very softly and calmly say "Mommy's here, everything is okay", being very careful not to wake her. After a few minutes she would go back to sleep.

I would recommend keeping a log of when this happens and how long it lasts. Then speak with the pediatrian and your counselor. They can give you some expert advise.

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D.

answers from New York on

She sounds a little old for night terrors. Usually this happens in very small children. My son was 9 mos old when he went through this. When you go to her is she awake or still asleep. If she's awake, it's not night terrors. Because with night terrors they are never truly awakened by it. They remain asleep during those episodes. It sounds more like nightmares. Which can be caused by any number of things.

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K.E.

answers from Buffalo on

My son had awful night terrors, and i wish I could tell you "practical Advise" however, they tell you to leave them be do not wake them let them work it out. I as a Mom would not call that practical because it is impossable to hear your child screeming for you and walk into his room to check on him and see that he is sitting up on his bed with his eyes open and you just want to put an end to the pain. You really do need to let them work it out on there own. The moment I let go and let him work it out they were done, and they do out grow it if they can mentally work out the terror. You sound like you are doing everything you can to deal with the stress, I feel the counsling would be very good for you and the counsler will advise you furthur.

Good luck, and Keep up the good work (you caring for her with all the love you have)

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A.J.

answers from Albany on

This is in no way your fault. My son's night terrors were triggered by exhaustion. Just make sure she is getting enough sleep 11-12 hours, & a consitent bedtime routine. Speak to your ped if it if doesn't stop.

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C.R.

answers from Syracuse on

Okay, don't blame yourself for her night terrors....it's not your fault, it happens to a lot of kids. My son had them at 18mo's(right before we moved into a house and introduced a new baby) and the good thing about them is that they stop as fast as they started....one day you'll realize that wow we got through the night(well not you with a new baby :) but she got through the night)...my son had them for about a month or so, every night....screaming, rolling around on the floor, hitting...there was no calming him down(because he was asleep) it was more just waiting for it to be over and watching to make sure he didn't get hurt....then about a month later he had a short relapse(maybe two weeks) and never again....he is 6 in the 1st grade and sleeps fine, but I will tell you that his personality doesn't adjust well to change....starting school or ending it puts him into a tailspin of fits and tears for a week or 2 until he adjusts to the new schedule, vacation is not relaxing for him because he is off his schedule....I just try to keep things as controlled/consistent as I can on a daily basis and when there is a big shift in things I pull out my patience and give him extra time to adjust....he is a lot better now than when he was younger and I am hopeful it will just keep getting better. Enough about me, good luck and remember this to shall pass!

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