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| Parents of Toddlers |
| Public online group |
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| My almost 3 year old has been waking up screaming... one night it was about his cars.... and another night it was about his ball.... and he wakes up and isn't really awake and like stays in the dream. and even when he wakes up he's still in the dream. what do i do????? |
| Posted by Chrissy on 05/20/2008 10:25 PM
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| Hello...my son isn't as old as your child (he's only 21 months), however lately he's been waking up from his naps crying, and in a sort-of daze like state, similiar to what you've mentioned. It's very sad to see him like this, and I'm assuming he's having nightmares as well. I just hold him close in my arms and rock him until he calms down. Sometimes a change of scenery, ie a walk around the house helps too. Good luck! |
| posted by on 05/21/2008 10:44 AM
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I experienced this with my daughter... here is an exerp from the book "What to Expect The Toddler Years" ~ Nightmares vs. Night Terrors
-Your toddler wake up screaming in the middle of the night. Was it a bad dream or a night terror? It's easy to tell if you know the difference.
FREQUENCY. Bad dreams, or night mares, occur more frequently than night terrors, still more children experience at least one episode of night terrors during the toddler or preschool years. When children have frequent night terrors, theres usually a family history of such episodes. Some children appear to have night terrors as early as six months old (usually characterized by extreme restlessness and thrashing during sleep)
TIMING. Night terrors usually occur in the early hours of sleep, most often between one and four hours after a child goes to bed. Nightmares strike later during the second half of the night's sleep.
STAGE OF SLEEP. Nightmares occur during REM (rapid-eye-movement), or dream sleep, which is the light sleep phase. Though the child sleeps through the dream, he/she awakens after it usually terrified. Night terrors are a partial arousal from a very deep sleep, (non-REM.) Children experiencing them usually do not awaken fully, unless they are roused.
MANIFESTATIONS. During a night terror, a child usually perspires profusely, has a very rapid heartbeat, and appears frightened and confused. The child may call out for you yet push you away. He /she may scream, cry, moan, talk, or even seem to hallucinate; sit, stand, walk, or even thrash around. The eyes may be open or staring, even bulging, but the child is still asleep. A child having a nightmare on the other hand may seem a little restless while dreaming, but it's not until he/she is fully awake that, the panic with plenty of crying and screaming begins. When a parent comes to the rescue the child is likely to cling desperately. A verbal child may try to describe a nightmare, but will not recall a night terror.
DURATION. Night terrors can last from 10-30 mins, after which the child usually continues to sleep. A nightmare is usually brief and is followed by waking. The duration of th period of panic following it varies from child to child and episode to episode.
ALSO. During a night terror, there is little you can do. Don't hug your child or hold him/her down, doing so will only make them more agitated. Don't try to wake him/her up, no matter how frantic they seem, as this will only prolong the event. Instead just watch and wait.
I had known there was a difference when my daughter experienced a night terror... but I had not read all of the info... especially about what not to do. It was very scary! She was thrashing, eyes open screaming NO over and over ... wanted me and said, "Momma I wanna hold you" so I would and she would push me away and scream NO.. arch her back and scream... she had a dazed look in her eye and I knew she wasn't even awake...I did all the wrong things and it lasted 2 and a half hours!!! I really hope this info helps you :) |
| posted by Samantha on 05/21/2008 02:37 PM
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