thread: 2 year old waking up terrified!

  1. #1
    Registered User

    Aug 2010
    Perth
    609

    2 year old waking up terrified!

    The last 2 or 3 nights my daughter has woken up through the night crying. She seemed to have a bit of a cold so I thought she was just unsettled because of that, but tonight she was crying uncontrolably and seemed really distressed
    We managed to get her back to bed but woke again about an hour later and nothing we could do would calm her down until we got her up and put on winnie the pooh. She is happy enough now but starts crying again when we try to put her back to bed. Its not just wingy I dont wanna go to bed crying, she sounds like someone is hurting her or something. It's horrible and I dont know what to do! Has anyone else experienced anything like this??

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Brisbane's Southside
    988

    Do you think she's having nightmares? - could it be that she is waking up alone and having a bit of separation anxiety?

    I don't really have any advice but here's some - I really hope it passes soon - I can remember that kind of crying from dd and I remember what it used to do to my insides!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Aug 2010
    Perth
    609

    Thanks Hun
    I was thinking it could be nightmares, it's just so awful cause even when we go in it's like she doesn't want us to pick her up. She didn't want me lying in bed with her, she didn't want to come to our bed. I just ended up staying up on the couch with her till she finally took herself off to bed with no fuss at 1am! I just wish I knew what was going through her mind

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Feb 2008
    Melbourne
    1,022

    My DD does that when she has an ear infection, because it really hurts for kids with ear infections to lie down. I would take your DD to a doctor to rule out anything illness wise that could be causing it. In the mean time you could try giving her panadol and see if that helps settle her down. HTH

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    Melbourne
    3,737

    Dd2 has been like this for a fortnight, waking screaming her little heart going so fast. I have been keeping the light on low and sit with her till she calms down. I took her for a check up last week and she got the all clear, no ear infections, throat was fine and we even tested her wee. Finally today her molar has poked up, she went up to her room this afternoon and hid. I have kept up the pain relief and I am hoping she sleeps through.

    Hope you get some answers soon.

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Sep 2008
    Adelaide
    3,201

    Could it be Night Terrors? I remember my BF little boy got them around the time he was about 2, only lasted for a few weeks but he was inconsolable, might be able to google some ideas to help if this is the problem

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Aug 2010
    Perth
    609

    Thanks for all your replies ladies.
    I am due to go to the Dr this week for mine and DS 6 week check up so might just take her along to get her checked out too.
    Didnt even cross my mind that it could be teeth as teething never bothered her as a little bubba, but I guess these last molars will be pretty nasty.
    Googling night terrors as we speak. Hope its not that, sounds horrible

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Mar 2011
    Brisbane's Southside
    988

    I hope you get some answers from your doctor


    **Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  9. #9
    Registered User
    Add CrazyLady on Facebook

    Aug 2009
    2,328

    DD was having massive night terrors a few months back but I got her a special angel to hang above our bed and told her it will make the bad dreams go away. She hasn't had one since and it's even worked with transition into her own bed (we just put a hook above her bed and moved the angel into her room) within the last 3 weeks. In her new room I got a himalayan salt lamp as heright light as they promote oxygen in the room and called it her fairy rock. Every night before bed we wave goodnight to her dream angel, the fairy that sits on her shelf facing her door to make sure she's safe and her "fairy rock light". It's really made transistion easy and she'll only really wake for some water if thirsty and so she can see that I am still nearby. I know you're not talking about transition but maybe get her a pretty angel to hang above her bed so if she wakes she knows she's safe? Majority of the time I think it's more mind over matter with nightmares and it seems to have worked here. The dream angel only fails if she's had any foods with the natural caramel colours in them that day. 160c has been pinpointed with us for guaranteed night terrors and sweats/shakes when they're leaving her system but we steer clear of all now to try and guarantee no stress.

    HTH hun! Disrupted sleep is not fun!

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Life Member - Love all your MCN friends
    Add Gigi on Facebook

    Jun 2004
    The Festival State
    3,008

    sounds like night terrors - it's awful when you can't get them to tell you what's wrong.

    the going to gp to rule out physical pain is a good one too.

    hope you LO gets some good dreams soon. I found routines and rituals to do with bed, became very important to my child. And things that THEY believe will help them, be it a special teddy, a spray bottle that has magic powers, etc. it's finding what resonates with them, that is the tricky bit, i discovered all ours by pure accident.

    even now at 4, when bilby has a bad dream, she is not able to tell me, or even speak. more flailing limbs than wanting a cuddle. when my instinct is to cuddle her to try and make her feel safe.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Aug 2010
    Perth
    609

    Thanks for all your replies ladies, I appreciate all your wonderful suggestions
    She has slept through the last 2 nights which was such a relief!! Fingers crossed her peaceful nights continue.

    Update: Finally got her to open her mouth just now, and yep there is a molar coming through!
    Last edited by Glass half full; March 31st, 2011 at 05:40 PM.

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Dec 2006
    Melbourne
    3,737

    Glad she is sleeping through, and that it's a molar so it should all be over soon.