[dreamBIG]

Hello all. Last night my four year old son started having a tantrum in his sleep. His eyes were closed the whole time and he would not respond when I asked him what was wrong. He was struggling when I tried to hold him and comfort him. Sometimes he got more agitated when he heard my voice. This went on for about 15 minutes....then started again a little while later. Finally, his daddy went to lay down with him and he went back to sleep. This has never happened before. I was so scared, I did not know what to do. Has anyone had any experience with this before? Is it normal? What should I do if it happens again? Should I try to wake him up? I would appreciate any advice, I felt so helpless. Thanks in advance.

[mandana]

If its truly night terrors, the only thing you can do is make sure they are safe and leave them alone. My son has them and its terrifying to watch, but they don't have any recollection of them normally. Talk to him today, see if he remembers, see if anything is bothering him. If not, just keep him safe while its happening and let it be.

Amanda

[babynurselsa]

When my older 2 daughter were small occaosionally they would have night terrors.
I found the only way to help them was to FULLY awaken them. In the midst of these they would sit up open eyes and even talk to me while trying to get away from the boogey man that they also saw. If I went back to bed they would go right back into the nightmare. If I really and truly got them awake then they would be able to go back to sleep sans the nightmare.
Thank God they outgrow them.

Funny story along these lines. When oldest was about the same age. She hada night terror one night began shrieking like she was being skinned alive. Apparently I was also having some sort of bad dream myself. As she began shrieking I began shreiking running around the house trying to get to her. Finally I woke up enough to get a grip on what was going on. My poor husband was following me through the house was had surely scared the bejesus outta him.

[NRSKarenRN]

Been there briefly with the oldest child at age 3..best to not wake them, if longer duration, laying with the child seemed to calm them. I found they occured more when routine upset and child excessively tired.

Some links:
Nightmares affect 20 to 39 percent of children between five and 12 years of age...

Nightmares and Night Terrors in Children -- familydoctor.org


Night Terrors - DrGreene.com

[Spidey's mom]

My older three had them . . . especially #2 son after his bio-dad was too damn lazy to wait until his son was asleep to watch that scary movie about fire and firefighters (too tired to remember the name).

He woke up for months after that screaming in fear that the house was on fire. I was so mad at my ex . . .he does the bad deed but does not have to live with the consequences.

Anyway, I always handled it as mentioned about - I didn't wake them and I just held them until they calmed down.

My 4 year old now has not had any but that may be because he still sleeps with his mommy and daddy.

It will pass - it is normal - you are not doing anything wrong - you are a good parent.

steph

[FutureNurse35]

If you pray with your child before they sleep, that will stop the nightmares. Sometimes scary movies can cause children to have nightmares.

[jillyk*rn]

My middle son had them. They are awful , but they do outgrow them. I found it best to just try to lay them back down quietly. Mine would never wake up from them, would just go back to sleep. He is now a teen, and has no recollection of them whatsoever.

[elizabells]

My dad and I both had them. Usually about things coming out of the walls. Yep, we had similar night terrors. I suppose it's possible he told me about his and then I had the same kind, but I think it's a little doubtful that any dad would tell his five year old that. Anyway, my parents could never wake me up. Eventually I outgrew it. I don't know about the praying thing, but if it works, it works.

[Nikki69]

my 3 year old just started having these also. i didn't know if i should call them night terrors or not. but he just starts screaming and crying, sometimes saying no, no, no. his eyes are closed and when you try to wake him up he gets more upset and kind of stiff like. but as steph was saying, either me or his daddy just holds him until he's calm again. he is very hard to wake up in that state.

[dreamBIG]

Thank you for the great replies! Luckily, I think it was a one time thing. Does anyone else think that raising kids is the hardest and emotionally wrenching job in the world? I love my kids more than life itself, but I worry about them CONSTANTLY.....I just hope I can get them to their 18th birthdays!!!!!!