night terrors HELP

Jeanette - posted on 10/12/2009

I'm also a stay at home mom and my daughter had these for a few months waking up almost every night. They're awful! We took her to the doctor and they don't have much advice for them. Her doctor recommended we try eliminating all sugar from her diet and it worked. She now sleeps through the night!

Colleen - posted on 10/11/2009

well i heard that they get night terrors because there brains r growing so fast,both of my kids had night terrors,they will grow out of it,

Mindi - posted on 10/06/2009

My son also had night terrors for a period of time. Not every night but when he cried in the middle of the night he kicked and screamed. He did eventually grow out of them. I talked to a friend of mine who has 5 kids and she said the same thing was true for a few of her kids...they eventually grew out of it.

Barb - posted on 09/20/2009

Believe me, I know about night terrors! My son, whose 17 yr.s old now, had them. The good new is that children do, typically, outgrow them. These episodes can be very scary, even to the parents. Your child will have no memory of them, though. Just hold your child and be reassuring. It seemed to help to rub my sons forehead with a cold cloth. Prayer, too, during the episodes seemed to shorten the duration. Be sure and talk with a dr. who's knowledgeable on the subject, too. Scientific research, esp. concerning sleep matters, is making great strides. By the way, my son has no other health or mental issues. I know some of the other replies propably seemed scary to you. hang in there, Mom and good luck to you and family.

Renee - posted on 09/18/2009

My oldest has bipolar and had them.I agree with the post about change in routine.The slightest change can disrupt them.Nigel outgrew them at about 8 but that's consistent w/Bipolar

Ashley - posted on 09/17/2009

ya but they are both great kids youngest only cries if shes hungry

Jacqueline - posted on 09/17/2009

Wow, you have your hands full.

Ashley - posted on 09/17/2009

no she is home with me and shes the oldest we have a 4 month old but shes too lil to fight with her sis yet lol

Jacqueline - posted on 09/17/2009

My daughter is the same age, and she does that too. My mother in law said that when children sleep they replay the day in their minds. I found this to be true. My 4 year old and her spat throughout the day and she replays that in her mind. After he started school, it's just her and I during the day and she is having fewer spells at night.
Just think about her typical day. Is she with you or at daycare? If shes at daycare or a sitter then maybe you should talk to them about her day. Do you have older children? Sibling spats overs toys and things could be a part of it too.

Najin - posted on 09/16/2009

Hi Ashley,

My son had these for about a week. The reason usually is when there is a sudden change in their routine or something bad happens that affects them emotionally. It usually happens to quiet intelligent sensitive babies. The reason my son got them was because at short notice I had to ask another nanny to look after him for a whole day and he was traumatized and didn't have his nap that day. So I decided to actually stop work and become a full time mum as my son needed me and I figured he is only young once & I'll never get this time back.

So now he is with me all the time, back to lovely strict(ish) routine. He is very happy, has a nap at 1p.m for about 2-3 hours. Goes to bed around 7p.m and sleeps all the way through till 7-8 a.m.

So really Routine is the key! (& ideally they need to be with their mummy in a relaxed happy environment, no nanny will give your child the true love that you give them and being the intelligent little things that they are, they do pick up on this)