Night Terrors - Norwood,MA

Hi Kelly:

My son is almost 6 years old and suffers from night terrors. He's always had them, it has subsided recently. At one point, around 3 yo, he was getting them a lot. He has not had one for a long time, maybe 2x in the past year. It is frustrating that you can't help them during it, but they also do not remember it in the morning. At least my son does not remember it. Hopefully, he will outgrow it like my son does. My 3 year old daughter never had night terrors. Good luck.

I personally have not had to deal with night terrors but am wondering if something in his life has happened? Is there anything new, kids deal with these things in weird ways. Like did an animal recently pass or maybe a family member? Did you move to a new house? Is he having a hard time at daycare (if he goes to daycare)? I think I would discuss it with the pedi though. Especially if this is something that happens frequently. I hope you get some answers though that will better help you.

Hi - My daughter is 6 years old. She had some night terrors (heartbreaking isn't it!). I actually have my daughters seeing a therapist due to my divorce. The therapist said to my daughter - "sometimes it's scary at night isn't it" when my daughter answered yes - the therapist validated that it was ok to be scared but to know that she was safe. I am not kidding you - the night terrors stopped that day! All it took was someone telling her it was normal... maybe we were just lucky! But worth a shot! GOOD LUCK!!

I empathize with the fact that you dont know how to console your child during these very frightening episodes. My now 16 year old son went thru a period of about 6 months having these night terrors when he was about 5 or 6 yrs old. I never figured out WHY...but only tried to figure out HOW to make him become calmed down. He would awaken only after a few hours after going to bed. He would be confused and extrememly terrified. Rambling on with nonsence. I tried talking to him but it didnt work..he still was actually in a deep sleep..kind of what we here about sleep walking. Sometimes he would get out of bed and walk around the house still actually asleep but rambling and very agitated. I would keep talking with him and get him tucked back in and lay with him rubbing his hair and showing him love and affection untill he just stopped and went back to sleep. Basically i just stayed with him telling him Mommy is right here..everything is OK. I will stay with you because I love you so much. Eventually after about 10 min (which was forever for me..because it was scarry). He would calm down and I could get him back to sleep. The next day when I talked to him about it he would be like "what"?? And think it was a joke and I was fooling him. It was funny to him because he really truly had no idea it happened. I guess that is the best part...that he doesnt remember being so afraid. He never again had these episodes, and has turned out quite wonderful if I do say so myself! Good luck..I know it is heartbreaking to see your child so upset. Just stay with him untill he is over it!

My son (who is now 15) had them horribly..started around age 5...kind of like sleep walking..they say not to try and wake them up, just try to calm them down and get them back in bed..it is terrifying when it first happens...the good thing, they do grow out of it

Kelly, I can totally sympathize with you. My son had night terrors for years - thankfully he has grown out of them. They were very random - it would happen 2x a month, then not for a little longer - very weird. I use to just hold him very tightly and whisper in his ear while he was thrashing around just saying, "I'm here, Mommy's here". I remember also trying to pick him up off the bed and hug him tightly. I don't know if any of it really worked, but it made me feel like I was helping him out somehow. I know it's very scarey and unpredictable. My son is now 9 and hasn't had an episode like that in years. Thinking of you - Good luck! L.