Night Terrors...

Kira - posted on 03/15/2009

Thank you very much for respondng, and taking the time to research it further. I will take all of these things in to consideration, and see if tonight is a better night for us.

Quinta - posted on 03/14/2009

How to Handle Toddler Night Terrors

By eHow Parenting Editor



Rate: (7 Ratings)

You're asleep when you hear a blood-curdling scream from the next room. Your toddler is sitting up in his bed crying, screaming and swinging his arms. For a parent, this is a scary sight. Rest assure your child is okay and won't remember a thing about his night terror. Attempts to wake or calm him down will only make the episode worse, so be prepared to keep him safe and ride it out.



InstructionsDifficulty: Easy



Step1

Understand night terrors are not the same thing as nightmares. Toddlers who wake in the middle of the night crying but consolable are having nightmares. Night terrors are periods of hysterical crying, screaming and non-responsiveness. The child will eventually calm down but not remember the event at all.



Step2

See that your child is safe. Be sure he can't hurt himself or someone else. Keep toys away from the bed and make sure there are locks on doors and windows in case he moves around.



Step3

Prepare yourself to handle a night terror by knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it or help your child calm him. A child who has a night terror is in a very deep sleep pattern, unlike a child who has a nightmare during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.



Step4

Watch or listen to your child to make sure they are safe, but do not try to talk to them or hold them down. Talking or restraining a child often times makes the child more aggravated. Know that most night terrors will only last a matter of minutes, although some children do continue for longer.



Step5

Wake your child up 15 minutes before he would normally begin the night terror. Usually children will have night terrors during the first half of the night. Keep track of when your child starts becoming agitated, and wake him up for a few minutes before the night terror starts. Do this for several nights to see if it helps.



Step6

Try giving your child his bath in the morning instead of before bedtime. Sometimes a bath can be an unwanted added stimulus for a child with night terrors. Keep your child as calm and relaxed as possible before bedtime.



I got this off of a parenting website...I dont want to take the credit.