Night Terrors ?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
May 2, 2009 3:50am CST
This is the 2nd one my almost 4yo has had. She woke up about 30 min ago demanding something to eat, mind you that's 3:10AM! SO far she's had a meltdown for something to eat, wanting to play OUTSIDE!, her toy piano, baby dolls, blankie, turning on all the lights (mind you I have 2 other kids!!!) and just kicked her sister out of her spot she took up on the couch because she wanted all the light son in their room and wanted to play...
Anyone else deal with this? where they wake up in the midst of sleeping and have a meltdown? I was told they do this because they are overtired. She had a later nap yesterday but still seems weird as my oldest never did this. *sigh* I have to work tonight & I don't think mom will get a nap at all. YAY for being the living dead 
1 person likes this
6 responses
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
2 May 09
Night terrors are when they are screaming and they don't even know you are there holding them. My son had those and it was awful.
Your little girl seems to have a confused sleep clock! I went through that, too. Tell her it's time to go to sleep, not play, and that she can have the night light on but none of the others. You have to be firm with her or she'll be running your life! It's hard to go through their tantrums and crying but you'll have to do it. Let her know you're just a few steps away, reassure her that morning isn't far away and there will be plenty of playtime when the sun comes up.
If she's afraid, comfort her but don't stay with her. Go back every few minutes and reassure her that you're there, she's safe, and it's time to sleep.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 May 09
I don't know that her sense of time was off because she wasn't acting like herself she was so freaked while crying for her demands and pretty much stood in one spot wich is totally out of character. She just kept repeating the same things over and over. SHe's a very very stubborn girl, she wants it her way or everyone pays.
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
6 May 09
My youngest was like that--his way or everyone pays. I've seen that type of child when they get older and it's not pretty. So we put a stop to it when we realized what was going on. I hated to hear him cry and scream but after a couple of times he realized it was time to be part of the family, not the ruler of it--after all, I was captain of that ship! It's tough but you can do it, if that's what's going on. You're the boss!!! 
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
6 May 09
I just read a couple of other replies and your remarks. Particularly this:
"It could be sleep walking but she was yelling and screaming her demands like having a meltdown but she wouldn't respond to anything you did for her to talk to her or calm her down."
It could be that she is sleepwalking. My oldest did that and so did I when I was young. Don't believe the old wives' tales about not waking up a sleepwalker. Take her by the hand and go to a comfy chair. Hold her while you wake her up. Sometimes you might have to have a damp cloth nearby--not cold, but cool--to put against her cheek. That usually does the trick. Then tell her she was sleepwalking and put her back to bed.
The fact that my son would wake up in my lap made him feel secure and confident that if anything ever happened at night that I would be there. His sleepwalking didn't last too long after I started that.
@Ozarkgirl (774)
• United States
2 May 09
WOW sorry for you. My youngest did this but it was because he was so hyper and if I made him take a nap during the day (even a 20 minute nap) the doctors told me it only refueled his energy so he would wake up at 2-4am in the morning ready to go and play. His body may be tired but his mind was NOT tired. Maybe you could try this and see if it works for her and you.....Hope you get some sleep......Good Luck!!
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 May 09
She's on the cusp of not taking naps anymore, she only takes them usually half the time. I don't mind that she skips them though since she'll be starting 4k in the fall and I have no idea if she'll be in the morning or afternoon session.
She's settling down now thankfully and curling up with her blanket on the stuffed chair. So I have 2 kids up and I"m just yawning like crazy. I'm glad though she woke the lil guy up briefly that he went back to sleep and he's no usually the sort to do so when he's disturbed.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 May 09
Thankfully my hubby doesn't snore... but he's on night shift so I'm on my own with these troublemakers til his next day off. Only problem of course is he won't be up until I have to go into work tonight so unless we can all "nap" togeather I doubt it's happening since my kids are to young to trust.
Thank goodness for caffine!
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
• United States
3 May 09
I was just watching an educational video on pbs last night about this subject.
They said that if your child is in the night terror state or waking dream, not to wake them or speak to them cause it will cause a meltdown or erratic behavior.
They suggest gently guiding them back to bed.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 May 09
That's why we left her alone we didn't know where in her dream or terror state she was or if it was part of sleep walking. They say not to wake a sleep walker so we just kinda watched her and made sure she didn't hurt herself.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
2 May 09
That's not a night terror. My toddler used to have night terrors when he was a baby. He'd wake up screaming bloody murder, as if he was in serious pain! I'd hold him, rock with him, nothing would quiet him down, not even a little. He could go on like that for hours, with absolutely nothing soothing him. Finally we'd end up having to take him downstairs and put him in his car seat and turn cartoons on the TV. He'd stare blankly at the TV for a couple hours and finally end up falling asleep, or at least be calm enough to be put back to bed. He did that nightly for a few months! Neither one of us could sleep while he was doing that. Thankfully he got over it and neither he nor any of my other kids have done it again. That's super hard to deal with!
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 May 09
How is one sure if that it's not a night terror? It's not like she was talking in a normal voice she was screaming her demands, in tears, and looked like she was in a zone of her own.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
6 May 09
It could be sleep walking but she was yelling and screaming her deamands like having a meltdown but she wouldn't respond to anything you did for her to talk to her or calm her down.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
6 May 09
If she's having a night terror, she'd literally seem to be terrified. She's not, she's just doing a sleep talking/walking sort of thing. Not uncommon, but certainly not night terrors.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
3 May 09
Hi there 3SnuggleBunnies Yes I have two girls and they are 7 and 8 and they both went through the whole night mare thing. It sucked really and to be honest every once in awhile they still will, not as bad when they were younger but just the other night I went upstairs to go to bed and I heard my youngest crying in her sleep. It scared me so I went in there and tried to talk to her and she did not know where she was. Even though I was trying to soothe her she still kept crying, she did stop after about 10 mintues and than I felt better.
Best thing you can do is comfort your child and another thing that might work is put a night light in her room that way if she wakes in the middle of the night she will not be in the total dark. I hope things get better with it. My doctor told me that kids do grow out of it around 7 to 10 just depends on the child. Take care and I hope for the best for you and happy mylotting as well. 
@kang_artha (88)
• Indonesia
3 May 09
ha..ha, sometimes my sister kids woke me up at night. His crying and asking to play with his mother. And i think this is not night terror but this is night disturbing for me..ha..ha, but i must be realize that when i was a kid maybe i also like him...so i cant get mad to him..ha..ha
