Normal Sleep Issue or Is Toddler Possibly Traumatized by Surgery?

This may sound naive, but I'm going to mention this because i hope it is something this simple- could he be getting his molars?

If your son had general anesthesia this response is a normal response to the anesthesia.

I've had several surgeries and then had difficulty sleeping. I'd wake up often. I'd have intense bad dreams and I'd cry because I didn't like any of it.

A neighbor had anesthesia and she relived the surgery in her dreams only her dreams weren't accurate. She thought that terrible things had happened to her. Her dreams were so unrealistic you knew they didn't happen but the dreams felt real to her.

You could call the anesthesiologist and ask about this possibility. I think you could find out his name and leave him a message at the hospital. His name is probably on your bill.

I doubt that he is having night terrors because he wants you to hold him. With night terrors the child screams in fear and doesn't want to be touched.

Hi R.,

You sound like you're really in-tune with your child. Use your mom intuitions, but I think a psychologist is probably over-kill. My instinct would be to cuddle him as much as he needs (it'll build up that feeling of security) and wait for it to ease up. Also, this might sound kookie, but I've had good success with those Bach flower remedies for anxiety etc. http://www.bachflower.com/ I used some with my son when he was going to a new daycare for the first time and kept saying he didn't want to go (he wanted to go to the old babysitter's house). He was crying about it all morning. I gave him the Bach remedy and by the time we actually went to the new daycare he was calm--still a little nervous, but willing to give it a try. So I'm becoming a convert. Good luck, I think this will pass...

When my daughter was 3 she had her tonsils and adnoids removed. She had a awful time coming out of the anesthesia. She was a great sleeper as well and stayed in her room all night. After the surgery she would wake up screaming and trembling. It was so sad. You could tell she was scared. It really took her with lots of patience and comforting her in her own bed about a year to get her back to her regular sleep patterns. I know all kids are different but in her case she had a hard time. We put a small radio/night light in her room which seemed to help. The light and soft music playing seemed to sooth her. We also took her to build-a-bear and let her build a special bear to sleep with her at night. It seemed to help as well. Really I think it comes down to within time things will get back to normal. Good luck and best wishes. :)

What kind of surgery was it?!? My son had head surgery at 6 months and he would wake up screaming as well for about 2 weeks. I told the surgeon cause I thought he was having nightmares as well and he said that he has never heard of baby nightmares. We never figured out what it was but I truly think that he was scared. Surgery is a very scary thing and they are confused. I'd recommend giving him at least two weeks of snuggles (cause I know his crying is breaking your heart right now) and then once his world is normal again explain to him that he needs to sleep on his own now. Best of luck.

Speaking from experience surgery is very stressful even if you do have support. Just being put under and awakening with pain, disorientation, and weird feelings really puts a strain on your mind. Comforting him at night and supporting him during the day is wonderful. Being able to express those feelings will be good for all of you. You might look up some baby sign language for feelings to teach him so that even though he does not communicate with words he can still tell you what he is going through. Just being able to express and work your way through a situation will allow strength to overcome it. Good luck and best wishes!

Hi R.;

As one lady already mentioned it is a hard call: age or surgery related? My twins have both had to have surgery for the same thing (as each other) but one year apart. One at the age of 3 and one at the age of 4. They have vivid little imaginations and used to wake up from bad dreams. Those dreams started when they were just shy of 2. After the surgery I didn't notice a difference in the dream changes.

I would just put in a call to your pediatrician and at least just have everything checked to make sure he doesn't have a tender spot that he may be rolling onto or something.

Try rubbing his callves when he wakes and see if they feel unusually hard, maybe he's experiencing 'growing pains'. My oldest son is quite tall for his age (he's 14 and 5'11 and 3/4") and has experienced leg cramps from earyl toddlerhood on.

That's all that crosses my mind. I understand not wanting to get into a pattern, but I think you're giving him the security he needs for whatever is waking him, whether it's fear, bad dreams, or a tender spot. I wouldn't about a pattern unless he starts waking and wanting to play and does the old crocodile tears (as moms, we all know when our kids are pulling a fast one :)).

Good luck and just remember: This shall pass.

maybe is he teething?
My son started waking during the night around 13 months and still does at 17 months, and my ped said its teething and when he wakes up to put orajel and see if that helps, which it did for us. GOod luck!

My son just turned 2 last weekend and hes gone through many stages of sleep patterns. For the past week he's been waking up at 3AM. He could be teething, this time my sons sleep pattern has changed due to his 2nd year molars trying to come in! When he teeths hes a light dinner eater which sometimes causes him to wake up hungry which can be a little frustrating, but its only a stage which wont last long, charish these special sleep deprived moments, before you know it he'll be all grown up! Give your little one some time and he'll re-adjust. You're doing great to comfort him and there's no such thing as giving too much love to your babies!

I also want to add that I had many surgeries due to a cleft lip and pallete which ranged from 10months old to adulthood. Children are amazing and they can bounce back in the blink of an eye. I don't remember much of my earliest surgeries, but what I do remember was how wonderful, supportive, safe and calming my mother made me feel and that is the best memory a child can have to carry with them!

this sounds similar to night terrors. My son went through them at about the same age, his were much more spread out, but its different for all kids. I assure you, its much scarier for the parents then the kid. Kids won't even remember it afterward. Its normal for them to look like they are awake, but maybe look very disoriented. My son freaked out worse if I touched him, I would just turn on the light and let him be until he calmed down, usually about 30 minutes or so and then he would sleep for the rest of the night. I would suggest talking to your pediatrician if you are really unsure. What about naptime? does he sleep ok then?
http://children.webmd.com/guide/night-terrors
check out this link, it has a lot of good info on night terrors.

This is normal. Kids go thru stages of growth, sleep patterns change. Dreams happen. Separation anxiety. When he wakes up, then hug him, cuddle him and get him to go back to sleep. This will pass, but unfortunately you're at a stage in your life where you need sleep, uninterrupted sleep because you're pregnant and delivering soon, wanting to store up those last moments of sleep. Life doesn't always accommodate our needs. Again, he's a toddler, intuitive about the upcoming changes, wanting his parents, not quite able to self-sooth to get back to sleep... but to persist is to achieve. Rock him, cuddle him... it's the quickest way back to sweet dreams for all of you. If you're only two months out from delivery, you'll need to think about other sleeping arrangements for his crib, because you're going to need room for the bassinet or the crib for little sister. As far as a psychologist for your toddler, NO. He doesn't have the language skills required for therapy. He just needs him Mom or Dad, he's still a baby, an older baby, but a baby all the same dependent upon you for the vast majority of his wants and needs.

I don't know if it's surgery or not - or maybe it has somehting to do with the age. One of my twin boys has had similar night terrors since he was about that age, and he's had no surgery or trauma at all. He would just wake up screaming and was absolutely inconsolable until we'd take him outside or into the bathroom and turn on lights and water, or something drastic to snap him out of it. It was pretty scary! He hasn't done it for a while now (21 months) but I remember it well! For comparison, my other twin had hernia surgery at 14 months, and hasn't had any trouble like this. Maybe it's just a phase... I hope he gets better soon!!

Like a few other people said, it sounds like night terrors. My kids had them just before they mastered something new. My son had them the night before he walked and the night before his talking became much clearer (yes, it literally happened overnight), and at other major milestones.

I have a friend who's daughter has night terrors. She said that for about an hour every night for a week, her daughter would be unconsolable, screaming and crying, and there was nothing she could do about it. Then it would stop for a few weeks, and then it would happen for a few weeks. As her daughter grows they are becoming less and less.

Good luck. I know its really hard to feel so helpless.

~S.

It must be hard to see your little one so upset and frightened. I think you are doing the right thing to hold him tight to comfort him. I wouldn't worry about creating a pattern until you have more information on what is causing his sleep issues. At this point, it is more important for him to feel safe.

Even tho he cannot communicate with a psychologist, perhaps your pediatrician can recommend someone who works with young children who could help. I'm wondering if there is a way to get feedback from your son through role playing or having you try different approaches at night to find a solution.

I had something similiar happen with my 4 year old after he had his tonsils out. We realized it was the tylenol with codeine that he was taking for pain giving him night terrors, we tried to take him off the meds but then he would be in pain so we had to decide which was worse. After about 2 weeks though it did get better and stopped. Not sure if this will help but thought I would share.

It doesn';rt sound like he was traumatized by the sugery. I think he may have night terrors. It is normal for them to devolp night terrors after they have been through stressful situations. I would talk to your ped. and see what she /he has to say. Good luck!

Hmmmmm, sounds like night terrors to me. My son, though older, also had and occasionally still does have night terrors. He is 8. And, you are right, if they are night terrors, they are NOT awake, but act completely terrified. Go to nightterrors.org and read about this condition; it may be just the information you need.

For my husband and I, the experience was quite unnerving; however, once I "diagnosed" the condition and read up about it, we are able to manage the situations better.

I wish you well in your research.

This is about the same age that my daughter developed night terrors. Hers were everynight and often 2-3 times during the night. She was still asleep and sometimes even had her eyes open, but wasn't focused on anything. They lasted for a good year or so for us. It was awful, but we got through it.

Good luck,
D.

i'd go see Dr. Taylor at the pettygrove clinic. ###-###-####. Make sure you ask for his shift, he's wonderful with babies. He's always helped us with sleeping problems. good luck.