Can't Figure This One Out

[MomFromCanada]

Our 3.5 yo dd has been waking up the past few nights, screaming so much she is beside herself. She won't talk to us and won't tell us what is wrong. We can't figure it out. My dh reminded me she had done this when she was 1 yo, wake up with screaming fits. We try to go in and ask her what is wrong with no response, and we try to hold her to calm her down and that doesn't work. Anyone experienced this and have any suggestions? She carries on for about an hour in the middle of the night and she has done this the past couple nights.
Thanks.

[cjropher]

Sounds like night terrors to me. They're pretty scary. It sounds harsh, but our best cure for them was to put their feet in cold water. They can't seem to wake up during them and the cold shocked them awake. Usually they had no idea that they had been screaming and would go right back to sleep.

There's lots of information if you google them.

[Reneemomto5]

I agree in thinking night terrors. There may be a few threads on here in the search areas regarding that (sorry I don't know how to attach threads).

My oldest suffered from night terrors as well. I think each childs night terror experience is different. For my son it lasted about a year. We would be gentle with each episode. Gently talk to him, pick him up, turn on our bathroom light have him look in the mirror and reassure him all was okay. Try to get him to drink some water, just continue talking to him in a calm voice. Its sometimes hard to figure out what snaps them out of the terror.

Just also try to be sure to have a very relaxing atmosphere when they are going to sleep. Sometimes its just the comotion of the day that did it for us and well sometimes we couldn't control that life happens, parties, fun events happen, we want them to happen. But we also knew what most likely would happen that evening. But we worked through it.

If something doesn't seem right with your daughter, that mommy gut is telling you something doesn't seem quite right, a trip to your ped might be helpful too.

Keep us posted on what you find that works. I have heard of great natural remedies but we never used them.

hugs mom

[RhysMom]

I am glad that I saw this post and was able to read the responses. My dd did this on Saturday night and I couldn't for the life of me figure out what was wrong with her. She didn't want me and she didn't want to tell me what was wrong. She ended up curling up on her bathroom floor on her ducky rug and falling back asleep. I probably should have moved her but I didn't want to risk causing her to have another screaming fit.

[Reneemomto5]

Sara, yes it sounds like Rhyanne had that too.

I wanted to add, we did cold water too when taking Bobby to the bathroom, we would wash his face with a wash cloth, sometimes warm even just to bring him back a little.

Its hard to see them sobbing and we aren't sure what's wrong. I hated every episode even though I knew what was wrong. I kept a monitor by his bed until the night terrors were completely gone and a bit after if I recall correctly. I wanted to try and catch them at first whimper it seemed easier to deal with sometimes.

[irishmum2boys]

I don't have much experience with night terrors, but I am thinking to take a look at her diet. My ds would wake up a lot when he was on wheat and dairy!

[RhysMom]

My concern is more the way our house is set up. We have a two story and the second level has three bedrooms and a bath. Rhyanne's bedroom is in a position where she has to walk right past the stairs to get to my room. When she is even mildly coherent she does fine. For example I have found her in the morning downstairs on the couch so I know that at some point she woke up and made her way down the stairs by herself. When she has these Night Terrors does that mean that she could likely not realize there are stairs there? The flight of stairs has about 17 risers and goes straight up so I am a little concerned.

Sara

[Reneemomto5]

Even if my kids didn't have night terrors I would purchase a simple pressure gate or some kind of gate for those stairs Sara. I think with it being a new house as well it will only help you sleep better at night.

With my sons night terrors he didn't sleep walk or anything just cry/scream in his bed almost half asleep half awake.

But I stress the gate idea for your steps Sara for a number of reasons. Even if its one of those swing gates we had one at the top of our steps in our home.

[~Tara~]

Sounds like night terrors to me too.

In which case, all you can do is keep them safe. You can try to talk to them, but for the most part, it won't make any sense or any difference. They may carry on a perfectly logical conversation with you or they may go on about something unrelated. Just be there to 'help' them. If they want mom, just let them know mom is right here. That may or may not 'connect'. Do not try to hold them. If they come and want a hug, ok, but don't try to hold on tight...be prepared for them to jerk away suddenly. Mostly it's about keeping them safe until it passes. Until they wake up or go back to bed.

Do NOT try to ask them about it in the morning. Chances are, they have forgotten EVERYthing. That's ok. It's better that way. Asking them about something they have no recollection of will only confuse them or possibly stir up emotions..making them scared to go to sleep the next night.

Just ride it out. Keep 'em safe. Comfort what you can. Do not restrain. Do not ask/remind.

I ditto looking into the diet. We noticed a round of night terrors with Eldest when he was having ice cream just about every night. That dairy. Weird, I know. But that was it for him. Also, whenever he was sick. When he had a fever, he would have a night terror.

HTH

I know these things are scary, for us, the parents.

[irishmum2boys]

sorry I was in a hurry this am and so my advice was probably not very helpful!
I just remember though that you guys have moved recently and also forgive me if I am getting my moms and little ones mixed up, but for some reason I think you were maybe having some behavior stuff going on too? So it could all be something to do withthe move too!!
Will be praying for you and your dd :)

[mom n luv]

We had night terrors too. They virtually stopped as soon as we made sure he had no milk at least 2 hours before he went to sleep.

Tara is right on about focusing on keeping them safe. When we would try to touch or hold that's when people started getting hurt due to increased thrashing ect.

I hope they resolve quickly.

[breezykc2]

I'm going for the nightmare vote...my son did this about 2.5 years...you couldn't wake him up all the way and he just sobbed and screamed until he was either exhausted or woke up finally....best thing to do is reassure them while going through it, give them a nightlight maybe, get them awake! Hard to do! Cold water on the feet/fan on the face/cool cloth/etc...Honestly, the thing that helped me the most was to pray over them out loud while rocking him while he did it...and it seemed to help! Either Satan got sick of hearing me or God answered my pleas! LOL

[MommyJessy]

I agree, night terrors, my nephews get them when they are sick. Scariest/saddest thing I have witnessed. My SIL just comforted them, gave them space and was just there for them until they come to, not much you can do otherwise. I'm with Breezy, pray out loud!

[MomFromCanada]

Thank you for your support and suggestions. She did not have one last night but that does not mean to say they are over. Yes, they are very difficult to watch them go through. It's like something else possesses her.
Yes, you are right, irishmum2boys, we just did move from PEI to here. Maybe this is all part of her making the move. I have no idea.
I will look into the diet thing.
Thanks again.

[Blessed 2 B Zoey]

Hi I have not read all the reply on this for that I am sorry and if I am repeating anything sorry again. :-)

My little girl sufferd bad night terrors for over 2 years and they would be violent with her attacking me.

I asked medical advice and was told the best thing to do is do nothing. I asked if I could wake her up and was told that this was not a wise idea.

The way I handled them was not speak to her and just put her beside me to make sure she did not hurt herself. It did cause some sleepless hours but she has out grown them with out side effects.

HTH

[Butterflykisses]

My oldest had them for a little while and her ped recommended evaluating what she was watching on tv. He said even Disney movies have tendency to be somewhat violent and can cause nightmares and such. We yanked her movies and they went away.

[marezee]

my DH had night terrors when he was a boy. he would sleep walk too.
my first son Nick had them when he was 1-2yrs old. and my third son Jake has them. he's 3.
the doctor told us they are not harmfull, and usually not remembered.
but not to try to wake them, just keep them safe.
so i don't think i would try the cold water thing. you don't want to shock them in any way.
just my thoughts.

[Blessed 2 B Zoey]

I heard shocking them awake can cause fits, so I just left Sinead to o back to sleep.

[mamallama]

I agree with the others. I would NOT try to wake her up. My dd has a few night terrors as well when she was younger. Everything I have read said not to try to wake her up in any way for fear of causing shock. Besides cold water just seems down right mean imo. When my dd had these DH and I just sat in the floor next to her until she came around and calmed down. Then we comforted her and prayed with her before tucking her back in bed.

ETA: I also wanted to mention that it couldn't hurt to watch her diet too. My children both had sensitivities to dairy when they were younger. We found that reducing the intake of milk and other dairy products when our dd was around that age helped reduce seizures. So you never know!

[MomFromCanada]

Things seem to be a bit better, but now what is happening is that she is not responding at all. She wakes us up first of all with lots of non verbal noises. So I go into her room to see what is the matter and she will not respond. If I leave the room, then she will throw an uncontrollable fit. So all I have been able to do is ask her questions with a yes or a no answer, I can't get any words out of her. I am assuming it is along the same lines of the night terror thing but I honestly don't know. The best I can do with her is keep calm, I am not sure otherwise.
Thanks for all your replies.

[Reneemomto5]

Maybe a trip to her ped wouldn't hurt? Just to check that everything is normal and these are indeed night terrors or nightmares, kwim? Not that there is a problem but sometimes its good to just know for sure.

[Blessed 2 B Zoey]

With night terrors you are unable to get a reponse, when my dd has them she did not respond. She would say things that sounded like a response but they were not if that makes sense.

[plaid]

My DD gets them sometimes and the last couple of times I have picked her up and just rocked her gently and sang to her. This has worked the best for me. I sing familiar songs that I sang to her all the time as a baby, this has calmed her down faster than anything else. I pray too! She has not had any for awhile now. Maybe it seems better too because it feels better to be able to *do* something.

Hope your dd does not continue to get them.