Christa,
I'm sorry to hear about your little girl's night terrors or whatever is happening to her at night. My son has gone through these many times. They may last a week or so and then are gone for many months. He is three now and we haven't had any since January. They are terrifying to listen to and so sad when you can tell they are totally disoriented and not responsive to you.
I got information from "The Baby Whisperer Solves all Your Problems" book. She has a chart that tells the difference between nightmares and night terrors. Below is verbatim what is said reg. night terrors. I hope it is helpful. Hang in there.
K.
Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems
Night Terrors:
What is it?
Called a "confusion arousal" in toddlers (a true night terror
happens in adolescence and is rare) it, like sleepwalking, is a physiological experience. Instead of making the normal transition from deep sleep to REM the child gets caught between the two stages. His body is active but his mind is not.
When does it happen?
Usually in the first 2-3 hours of sleep- the first third of the night
What does it sound and look like?
Begins with a high pitched scream. Child's eyes open, his body is rigid and possibly in a cold sweat, and his face might be flushed. he may not recognize you when you come to him and won't remember anything about it later on.
What to do when it happens?
Don't wake him; it will only prolong the episode, which typically lasts about 10 min. (it could also be as short as 1 min or as long as 40) This is more upsetting to you than to him, so try to relax yourself and ride it out by offering only verbal reassurance. Protect him from banging into furniture.
How do you prevent future episodes?
Try to keep his routine consistent, and avoid letting your child get overtired. If these episodes occur frequently, or if a tendency toward sleepwalking runs in your family you might want to talk to your pediatrician or consult a sleep specialist.