Toddler nightmares
Toddler nightmares are awful. R had a tiny ice cream cone – the ones that are about 2 inches tall – before bed a few nights ago. Only a few hours later he woke up in a fit of screams and tears. Holding him, hugging him, talking to him, and removing him from his room didn’t stop the crying.
I thought he had nursemaid’s elbow again, as the crying was so severe. A few minutes later, in between sobs, he said “I… don’t… want… to… go…………….” and was completely asleep again. One second he was sobbing and talking, and literally – I mean LITERALLY – the next second was sound asleep.
Weird, right? Looking back on it, I think he was crying and screaming in his sleep that entire time.
The next day I asked him what his dream was about. He told me that I was on fire and he didn’t want to go to the hospital. Um, lovely dream?
Anyone else deal with toddler nightmares? I’ve learned my lesson and won’t be letting him eat anything sweet before bed again.
PS- Both kids have weird sleep things. A took a little snooze at the top of the slide last week. Proof:
Night terrors are different from nightmares. they stink. here is some info. http://www.babycenter.com/0_night-terrors-why-they-happen-and-what-to-do-about-them_67331.bc
yes, yes you’re right, they are night terrors. I always call them nightmares but you’re right – they are night terrors. I suffered from them as a child and R has since before he was walking, too. He hasn’t had one in awhile and I forgot about how horrible they are. Thanks for the link – I didn’t realize that sleep deprivation has a hand in them.
NP. I discovered that info when my daughter had one last week. Freaky! Hope they both get have fewer soon!
Sophia has had several episodes that last about a week where she’ll “wake up” screaming, crying, and talking but really she’s still asleep. A friend in the medical field told us that she’ll be prone to sleep walking as well so now we keep the gate at the top of the stairs firmly closed when we go to sleep.
I do notice though that it comes in waves and then subsides for weeks or months. I’m sure it has something to do with growth spurts.
My toddler had night terrors for awhile. They are scary! We used to try to wake her up to calm her down, now we just wait them out with her.