All Communities > Welcome to Circle of Moms!! > Nightmares

Nightmares

Brianna - posted on 06/30/2010 ( 3 moms have responded )

118

8

Join Circle of Moms

Sign up for Circle of Moms and be a part of this community! Membership is just one click away.

Join Circle of Moms

3 Comments

View replies by

Brianna - posted on 06/30/2010

118

8

Thanks, i just tried to sooth him and keep him calm, it just took for ever for him to relax. Once he did relax and we tried to put him back down he woke up and was just crying, no longer fighting. I know that more things are worse for the parents then the kids, but it is tough to see your child so upset!!

Sherri - posted on 06/30/2010

9,593

15

It was most likely a night terror. My middle one had them till he was almost two he would try and climb up and over me still screaming bloody murder. They do outgrow them but he may have them once or for a while. They are far worse for the parents then the child.

Night terrors are a common sleep problem among children. By some estimates, about 15% of younger children have occasional night terrors. Although most common in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years, they can occur at almost any age.

Although usually considered to be normal or benign, they are often very scary and distressing to parents who often overreact, especially during a child's first night terror.
Symptoms
When you hear how most experts describe night terrors, it is easy to see why parents find them distressing. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and letting out a 'blood curdling scream'. These kids will usually also be sweating, breathing fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). And although it will seem like they are awake, during a night terror, children will appear confused, will not be consolable and won't recognize you.

Typical night terrors last about 5 to 30 minutes and afterwards, children usually return to a regular sleep. If you are able to wake your child up during a night terror, he is likely to become scared and agitated, mostly because of your own reaction to the night terror, especially if you were shaking or yelling at him to wake up. Instead of trying to wake up a child having a night terror, it is usually better to just make sure he is safe, comfort him if you can, and help him return to sleep once it is over.

Brianna - posted on 06/30/2010

118

8

I think that my 10 month old son had his first nightmare last night. He woke up screaming and continued to do so for almost an hour. I held him, sang, hummed, talked all while carrying him and rubbing his back but he just fought against me. He was pushing away from me, arching his back and just seemed inconsolable. After over and hour my husband came to help me and I don't know if he was more comforting or not but his crying slowed down and he finally fell back to sleep after another hour. Has anyone else had this happen? Did you find something that helped sooth you baby? How long do the nightmares go on?

Want to find out the opinions of this community?

Add Poll