6 Month Old Having Nightmares?

Hi M.! My name is K. and I am a mom of a 17 month old little boy. We go through the same exact thing. It has been happening since he was about 3 months and it is very sporadic. I'm just like you, we haven't changed anything regarding bedtime but yet some nights it happens and other nights it doesn't. I'm sorry that I don't have any advice or help for you, but I know that it sure does make me feel better just knowing that I'm not the only one dealing with it. The only thing I can tell you, is that holding my son tight and reassuring him that "Momma has him" and that "everything is ok" seems to help. I wish there was an answer to this and I wonder how long it lasts. If there is anybody else with answers, please let me know!! Thanks!

Hi M.,

It's not necessarily night terrors with just one episode so don't get to worrying yet :) ...If it is, you can prevent them by working against the primary causes. Stress, lack of sleep and/or neurological toxins are the primary causes for night terrors. You said you haven't changed formula or bedtime but have you changed anything in his routine like laundry detergent, baby lotion, or even YOUR perfume? I always recommend detoxing the house and your body so there is NO neurological stimulation that can do any harm. Most cleaning supplies, bath and body products, lotions, etc contain levels of toxins that we, as adults, can sometimes fight off, but little ones can't. (Sometimes we as adults even have reversable conditions that we don't link to enviromental toxins, like allergies, fibromyalgia, NALD, etc.) If you detox and remove all the negative stimuli, then when you NEED to diagnose something, it will be a more accurate diagnosis so you can treat it correctly.

The other suggestion I have is regular chiropractic maintenance. When I delivered my second child, I went straight from the hospital to my chiropractor and then home. The trauma to the spinal column during birth can cause problems that sometimes don't show up until 10 years later.

I applaud you for being an attentive mom! Some people allow things like this to go on and on before they ask for help. :)

God bless!

M.

I think most of us mothers go through this at different times in our lives with our children at some point or another. I don't know that there is anything you can do or not do to prevent it. I always said that they are dreaming of those big, huge needles in the dr's office coming at them. After all, what do they have that they can be afraid of at that age?
Just hold him when he does that and let him know you are there and it is alright. If it gets to the point where it is every night, I would check with my dr. Right now, I think it is just part of what babies do.

Try going to Web MD.com and looking up night terrors. This not uncommon, althoughth age that it is happening is. My daughter also had these at a very young age and out grew them by the time she was 8 months old.

Dear M.:

I am the Mother of 3 grown son's and the Grand Mother to 2 granddaughters and 1 grandson. My middle son had night terrors from when he was very small until he was a teenager. Thankfully he grew out of it. He would run in place by our bed and scream with his eyes wide open. He also would sometimes run through the house doing this. He wasn't awake. We would talk gently to him and wipe his face with a warm washcloth until he was calmed or awake. He would go right back to sleep and most of the time not remember any of it even happening. Of course his brothers did remember and would tell him what he did and he wouldn't believe it until I would confirm it. Your pediatrition may be of some help. Good Luck!

M., congratulations on the baby! And just so you know, it is quite common. I never had my daughter diagnosed with night terrors, but from what research I could find, all the symptoms fit. She was only a few months old when they started so not sure I believe the theory of "big needles coming at them" although I did remove my Christmas antlers one day while giving a baby their shots, in fear they would be afraid of Rudolph later in life.

My oldest was the only one with this problem. She would be crying and screaming and not awake, I would try to wake her and just hold her and tell her it was ok. This stopped once she had the routine of sleeping in her own bed/crib. When we would visit family and she slept in a strange place, it would happen again. In her toddler ages, it would happen again when visiting and also when we were potty training it started. I would walk or carry her to the bathroom, she would go, and then back to bed, sleeping all night. It got to the point I would just wake her enough to take her to potty and that seemed to work. Now she is almost 13 and doesn't remember any of it, nor has she had an "episode" since maybe 7 or 8 yr old. On a note, she did sleep walk as a youngster too, so maybe watch out for that! There really isn't any explanation to why they do this, and I personally find it hard that they are having nightmares when they have no idea of fear just yet. Just try to hang in there and keep your sanity! I hope this helps and our very best to you!