Night Terrors - Warminster,PA

Updated on July 08, 2011
S.G. asks from Warminster, PA
8 answers

3 straight nights of night terrors from my 2 1/2 year old lille boy toddler Not sure what is causing this or how to stop them. All I know is I have not slept and I aork every day. So my ped doctor says nothing I can so. Any suggestions out there--not looking forward to night 4 of it.....help

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P.K.

answers from New York on

Try changing his bedtime. If that does not work, make note of when they
happen and try to wake him before then. It is all about changing their sleep
cycle. Good luck. Worked like a charm in my house.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

C.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

We had a recent seminar on night terrors. They suggest keeping tabs on what time the night terrors occur then wake the child up about 10-15 mins before they occur and it will most likely disrupt the night terror cycle...and like others said rearrange her room. Other than that, good luck sweetie. There isn't anything else you can do. Just bear with it and remember that he can't help it or control it.

3 moms found this helpful
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P.M.

answers from Portland on

This is a tough one for parents to endure, but your boy probably has no memory of the events. This very helpful website on children and sleep (http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/sleep.htm#terror) will give you some information. Night terrors are associated with insufficient sleep and overtiredness, so you might try earlier bedtimes for a bit to see if that helps. And I have heard from other good sources that you might be able to break the cycle by waking your child shortly before the event usually occurs, and then helping him settle back to sleep.

Hope this is a brief problem in your family!

2 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

My son had night terrors for a long time. Having been through it, I would sleep next to his bed, on the floor nearby so you can be there immediately. You need to break the cycle so be sure and keep track of when he wakes so you can wake him prior to that time. My son woke at 2 a.m. (on the dot!). It's crazy. I started waking him about 1:45, stroking his hair and his back and spoke to him regarding the fun we'd have the next day etc. He was basically asleep the whole time but it apparently worked because a few days later, it stopped. Good luck.

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J.J.

answers from Allentown on

Well as others have said this can be just normal for some kids, but often an earlier bedtime can stop them from happening. And if that doesn't work waking them shortly before they occur. You can google websites to gain more info as to why these work, but those would be my first steps. Earlier bedtime and then track the time and try waking him up before. Good luck and I hope you can get back to more normal sleep.

2 moms found this helpful

M.S.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Ugh, so sorry to hear this! We've been to several sleep clinics/seminars for my son's sleep issues (he also saw a developmentalist regularly due to being a premie) - we learned that true night terrors are less than 10% of kids between ages of 5-8 and even more rare when younger than 5yo. My son from 15mos - 25mos had them (according to Children's Hospital) and they were awful. They'd last for 45mins, he was impossible to wake, he was very violent. I co-slept with him and all I could do was comfort him when they happened, because they never happened at the same time (sometimes at 8pm, others at 3am), and from 22-25mos they happened at naptime.

I would try all of the suggestions from others - if those don't work (like with us), then try to find someone to help ride out the nights with you. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.P.

answers from Cleveland on

see if there is anything in his room that is happeneing or if he is watching something or listening tosomething before bed that could do it, make sure he is changed and everything and maybe put soft music on for him and a couple toys in his bed

1 mom found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

Sadly these are very normal at this age group. I co-slept with my child since she was home from the hospital - so my daughter never had a severe case, because I was there to make her feel secure, safe, comforted and not alone... Why not go sleep in your son's room with him or bring him to your bed if the terrors are that bad? Your body next to his, stroking his face and hair and humming after screaming from a night terror will calm him faster than you running in after he's been screaming for a bit and trying to calm him down with words and rocking in a panic mode fashion.

1 mom found this helpful
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