Temper Tantrums - Medfield,MA

Hi D.

My son was the same age exactly when he developed "night terrors". He would wake up screaming and asking for me but didn't recognize me when I tried to comfort him so of course it just made things worse. He's now 19 so it's been a while for me but I do recall that turning on the lights was the one thing recommended that helped the most. The only other thing you can do is keep them safe, push things out of their way and protect them. Once we turned the lights on he'd start to wake up and be fine. I can't remember how long this lasted but I don't think it was more than a year or so. Good luck!
D.

Hey D.,
I am looking forward to seeing the responses you get as I too am going through the same thing. My daughter is 13 months today and I feel like a switch went on in her. Her mood during the day is like a roller coaster and she has been getting up at night screaming. I thought it was the milk she just started a few weeks ago but it doesn't seem to be at the times when she drinks it or there after.
As for her being soaked at night... My daughter was soaking through every night.I started using Huggies Overnights in a size 5. (she actually wears a 3/4 regular diaper during the day) It works like a charm.

Hi D.,

Sounds like night terrors to me. My daughter had the same thing around that same age (she's 2 1/2 now). Did my online research and her pedi confirmed it. It's like they're suspended in this middle ground between sleep and wakefulness. It's advised not to awaken them or they will resist (because they are disoriented). Don't try to hold her. Just make sure she's safe and it will end on its own -- without her having any memory of it. Some say it's related to not enough sleep. But for the most part, they really don't know why some kids experience this. My daughter would literally flip out just out of nowhere in the middle of the night. It's upsetting as a parent, especially when you can't figure out what's going on and they're resisting your attempts to comfort them. Hang in there, she'll soon outgrow them and continue on the road to being a happy and healthy toddler!