How do you know when it's a night terror?

[dee73]

I had a similar experience last night with ds - went to sleep as usual at 7.30, then started screaming at 9.30. He was sitting up in bed when I went in, but would not stop crying and screaming - wouldn't look at me or calm down when I cuddled him. I was thinking night terror, but after about 25 mins he finally calmed down enough to talk and he said "ear hurts". I asked which ear and he started rubbing his left one. He didn't want to lie back down, kept crying when I lay him down, so i gave him some panadol and let him fall asleep sitting on my lap on the couch. Put him back to bed and he was fine till woke at normal time this morning.

So, if he hadn't told me his ear hurt I would have guessed night terror. It's so hard to tell sometimes when they can't tell you what's wrong.

[Naomi]

Nick used to get night terrors at that age and it was awful, he would scream for ages, but we were told not to touch him from the dr because it can make it worse.
He never woke up though, once it was over he would lie back down and go straight back to sleep, he didn't even know i was there.
It sounds like your little one is just unsettled at the moment, all my boys went through this at some stage, i hope it doesn't last long for you though

[Liz185]

Thank you so much everyone!

He woke up again at 3.30 and I'm pretty sure he's awake, only because he comes to the gate and can see mum and dad's bed from there and moans and wants to be let out.

I honestly don't know if it's nightmares or not! we really haven't been watching anything on tv lately, and he just sticks to kids shows. I still don't fully understand a night terror!

so it's like sleep walking or something? When I wake up so comfort him he just screams and cries. I'd say he screams more- I mean I'm half asleep and blind as a bat when I wake up to see him.. so it just seems like a tantrum to me. I just don't know!

He's never had this problem before and as I said, he's slept through since 1 month, so it's really getting to me, especially having his baby sister right next door!!

maybe he's not well, but once he gets up, he's fine!!

[Willow]

Ohhhhhh, I feel your pain!!

We are going through the same thing with DD, although she is older than your son, she turned 3 in Jan.

We were thinking night terrors too but it's now been going on for 3 weeks and we know it's not.

She has slept through without incident since 8 months (she was sleeping through earlier but not every single night iykwim) so it's a rude shock when they suddenly start waking again.

She had said some strange things about flies in her ears so I took her to the drs to have her checked over and after speaking to him and mentioning that she's also been having accidents at home (which she hasn't done since TT) he thinks its separation anxiety

He said it was common around her age, especially because she's just started pre school, has a new baby brother, has changed bedrooms and moved to a big bed, all in the last 6 months.

We're trying to ride it out and hope it passes soon but I admit getting up to 2 of them is wearing me out and at times (like last night) I lose my patience with her especially when she wakes her brother (like last night!).

[Liz185]

Oh Willow, I hope it gets better soon for you!!

I'm just going to bed now, so fingers crossed that he sleeps through (although it is boiling hot Melbourne weather at the moment, so probably not!)

Yes maybe the whole experience of having a new big bed is getting to him... I don't see how a bottle of milk helps that though?! lol

I wish he could communicate properly.. I think that's the main thing that gets to me.. I never know what he wants.

Oh well ! Wish me luck tonight LOL