My two year old is having night terrors not nightmares. I feel like I have tried everything any suggestions?

Question

My two year old has had night terrors for the past six months we have tried so many things we monitor her diet and keep out processed foods and foods with a lot of sugar. We try to keep things low stress for her and make sure she gets a lot of sleep from 8pm to 7am and a two hour nap each day. We have even gone so far as to paint her room a soothing green and scent it with lavender trying to make her enviroment as soothing as possible. She is still having these night terrors and they usually happen in her stage 3 rem and last about 10 to 15 minutes they are horrible and nothing comforts her. The doctors just say it will pass she will grow out of it. I cant stand seeing my baby so scared does anyone have any suggestion? I'm desperate!

Answer 1

One solution you tried may be making her dreams worse -the lavender. Lavender is known for stimulating exciting dreams.

A true night terror is part of brain development, and there is no solution (unless there is some very recent research results.) It usually ends at 7 years old, but that is only a generalization, not an absolute date. Here's a few links to get you started:

http://www.nightterrors.org

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medicineplus/ency...

http://www.pediatrics.about.com/cs/sleep...

My personal suggestion is to reassure her that dreams are not real. They may feel bad, and scare her, but they won't hurt her. I also suggest you continue read the newest research on child development, night terrors and sleep, as they come out. You have my sympathy for this challenge, I see how much you love your daughter. I wish the best for you.

Answer 2

I really don't know what everyone else does but I have a 2 1/2 yr old and she has night tares, we were told the do go away by there self's. When she gets really bad I climb right beside her and sing to her it doesn't wake her but it has always calmed her since she was born. When they first started she would wake up dripping wet almost and shaking so hard she could barley stand, so like any mother I called the DR. immediately afraid of what was going on. There's nothing you can do I was told they all go through it, is what I was told. We did the lavender and warm rugs for calming and singing and holding they are easing some now but she started them at 20mths. and there will be times she will have a really bad one and wake up screaming for us, so we never have her room all the way dark. I hope this helps or lets you know were going through it too.

Answer 3

Just try praying with her at night...

Answer 4

They pass but it will take time. My oldest son started at 6 months old and lasted until about a month ago and he is turning 6 in August.  I had them until i was 12 years old.  With nightterrors they don't remember anything about it because they really aren't awake when they scream so while it may make her tired she won't really know why.  Some say that nightterrors are a childs way or remembering negative things that happened in a past life and they are having a hard time letting go.  I know my son would scream for people that we don't even know and nothing we did would help.  The Dr said to keep away caffine and sugary drinks at bedtime and no red-dye (that affects the brain in children making their brains "hyperactive").  Also told to make sure he wasn't overly tired at bedtime and not to try to comfort him during a nightterror as that just makes it worse.  My son has a very short REM cycle and until the psychiatrist put him on Risperdal a month ago he just screamed most of the night not even knowing that he was here.  It was very horrible to watch him go through it.  He even pulls hair and tries to bite during his nightterrors but now they have calmed down a lot.  I was told if they weren't better by 5 years old then he would need to have a sleepstudy and look into options to help him sleep.

Answer 5

Try this church for your answer:

New Wine Christian Fellowship

[phone] - 1035 Fairmont Pky, Pasadena, TX

Pastor Chris Simpson

Gob bless you!

Answer 6

That's just sad. Here, when I was a kid (still am, in fact) I had the same problem. Are you sure that she does feel comfortable? Maybe she has a secret she won't tell. Does something stress her that you don't know about? It's all about how comfortable she feels. Oh, one more thing. Make sure that you love her. You know what's good for her. You know what you are doing. Ease her up. Two year olds can talk, right? Make her talk. If she doesn't crack, give up and try another answer.

Answer 7

Don't try to wake her. And expect that your efforts to comfort her will be rebuffed — a child having a night terror really can't be calmed down, and if you try to hold her it may make her wilder. Unless she's in danger of hurting herself, don't attempt to physically comfort her. Just speak calmly, put yourself between her and anything dangerous (the headboard of her bed, for instance), and wait for the storm to pass. Before you go to bed, take the same precautions you would for a sleepwalker, since children in the grip of a night terror often stumble out of bed: Pick up any toys or objects on the floor that she could trip on, fasten a gate at the top of the stairs, and make sure windows and outside doors are locked.

here is the link where i got it it might help you understand some more.

http://parentcenter.babycenter.com/0_nig...

Answer 8

I used to get them when I was younger. I am now 18. I dont remember my mom doing anything other than watch me and sooth me. I think that over time it will pass and they will grow out of it.

Answer 9

My daughter began getting night terrors when her dad left for Iraq. Our pediatrician said that sometimes they begin with a sudden change in life or foods, etc. But honestly they have no idea why they happen or why they just stop. The key is to not wake them up in the middle of a night terror. I would just make sure she was not going to hurt herself and let her ride it out herself. It was painful to watch but there was nothing to do. Also try to get a schedule down as far as bed time. It seemed that once I did that my little girl began to have them less and less and finally non at all.

Answer 10

Let the night terrors rund their course.  Two of my kids went through them.  There is really nothing you can do because as you pointed out they are not nightmares and children do not really wake up during night terrors.  She really isn't "scared" and won't remember the terror when she wakes up.  Listen to your doctor, it will pass...all the painting of the bedroom and lavendar scents aren't going to help...in fact the scents could be part culprit if the child has allergies.  When she has these just go in and check on her to make sure she isn't hurt but other than that back off.

Answer 11

I have a daughter with night terrors and also a husband who has them occasionally. From experience with both of them, I can tell you, it is far worse on you than it is on them.  The sleeper doesn't remember them, they go back to sleep in a few minutes and we are left awake and feeling bad!

It sounds like you are trying everything you can to lessen them.  Keep that up, and continue to research, you never know what you may find.

I can tell you from 18 years of experience with my husband, he NEVER remembers them, he isn't upset by them in the least, and he goes right back to sleep.  My daughter is 10 and she is the same. I spend far more time worried about them than she does.  I know it sounds harsh, but I think you may need to step back and realize it bothers you more than it bothers her.  Keep her safe during the episodes, do not wake her, and know that nothing you do will "comfort" her.  This awareness made me much more capable of coping with my family's episodes.  I am not saying ignore them, I am saying that as a parent, we have to know our limitations and be aware of when  something concerns us more than our children.

Good Luck.  It isn't easy I know, but she will probably grow out of it.  My husband only gets them during times of stress, or little sleep.  Knowing this makes it easier for me to predict as well.

Answer 12

Sorry to hear your toddler is strugging w/ this:(   I know you mentioned you have been monitering her diet ...I read caffeine can make them worse and you should eliminate anything chocolate in her diet, even the smallest amount found in a cookie, etc.  

Also what temperature is her room  at night.  Go to home improvement store like Lowes or HomeDepot and put thermostat in her room to find out.   Are you using AC in summer because I also read if you bring down temp to 68 in bedroom,  it can help some children and even adults maintain deeper sleep.  and have her wear a loose fitted comfortable sock to ensure warm feet.   Are her pajamas comfortable too??  Get her some white cotton Hanes tagless undershirts in boys section and have her sleep w/ shirt and diaper and defintely no tight pajama pants.  Also use cotton fitted sheets on mattress and a top sheet and light blanket to help maintain a good body temperature but still have breathable fabrics.   And moniter her liquid intake during the day and make sure she is staying hydrated.

Answer 13

well, what is the difference between night terrors and nightmares?

EDIT: oh wow...i didnt know that! hmm that is interesting