possible night terrors?

athlone M

hi ladies I was wondering if anyone would have any ideas or be able to offer any help.
My son who turned 2 in March has started to wake during the night crying uncontrollably.
It happened 1st on Friday night at around 11 or so he was sobbing his little heart out and he was unconsolable, so I brought him down to the sitting room and gave him a cup of juice and a spoon of calpol thinking he must have a little pain, I then brought him back up to bed about 10 or 15 mins later and he settled down and slept til about 10.30 the next morning.
He then went to bed on Saturday night and slept as normal.
However last night was a completely different story, again he woke at about 11 crying and I went into his room gave him a cuddle and tried to put him back into his bed but he wasn't having any of it so I brought him down to the sitting room and gave him so calpol as he was really hot and made him a little cup of juice and rather than waiting for him to drink his cup his father brought him up to bed but he no longer had been back in bed and had his cup of juice drank than he was crying again so I went up to him and took him into bed beside me but he was having none of it so I brought him back into his own room and put him into his cot turned on his lamp and read a story to him which seemed to calm him down. I went back to my own room about 15 mins later or so and he fell back to sleep.
But he woke about 3.40 again crying uncontrollably I went into him and took him out onto my knee but he din't want to sit he just kept wiggling so I put him back into his cot again and kept rubbing his hand through the cot he eventually calmed down and after a few mins I left his room with his light on and went back to bed but I waz no longer back in bed and he was crying so i got back up to him and tried to read him a bit more of the story but he wasn't interested, so I brought him down to the kitchen and changed his nappy and made him a small cup of juice and brought him back to bed. He then fell asleep but was awake talking when dh was going to work at 7.30 but fell back to sleep himself and didn't wake again til 11, however when he woke he started crying almost straight away.
He now seems fine not in bad humour or clinging to me.
I am a sahm and there was nothing different in his routine yesterday than other days there wasn't even any visitors to the house yesterday.He also didn't watch anything new on tv yesterday.
I recently changed his room around but he has slept in it a couple of nights prior to these episodes without any hassle.
I don't know what to do with him and it is really upsetting to see the poor little divil so upset. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

ReanneD

My son is now 4 and a half yrs old and only started getting night terrors when he was 3. We tried everything to try and stop them happening and everything to calm him down when they were. The last ting that I tried I read on the internet saying because your child cant hear you when they have a nigth terror, its best just 2 try and reassure them physically.

The only advice that I can give you is what I find that works when my son starts crying is, and as horrible as it sounds is gently restraining him and stroking his head until he calms down and then lie as close as u can beside him in his bed until he falls asleep and hold him tightly so he feels secure, just like when a baby calms down when its swaddled. Other than that I wish u all the luck with whatever works for you and your son as I know how hard breaking can be for all of you.

Parenthood

Are you sure it's not just just nightmares? One of my girls periodically has night terrors and children with them usually will not let you touch them and can even be agressive.

A child with a nightterror is actually asleep, and the condition is similar to sleep walking. Your son might be calling you, but actually not see you even if you're standing in front of him.

The most common trigger is being overtired, eating late, changed or poor bedtime routines. If you son is not feeling well, since you are giving him calpol, he might be coming down with something that is not letting him sleep well or feel rested.

Unfortunately there isn't much you can do, apart from just being there and making sure he doesn't injure himself. But I don't think it's a question of sleep terror, rather just being out of sorts or nightmare.

There is a good article to read, Night terrors

athlone M

thanks for your replies.
We seem to have it under control for the miute anyway he hasn't seemed to have beenhaving these dreams or whatever since last weekend, thank god.
THanks again