Night Terrors - Kew Gardens,NY

My daughter and my ex hubby both have had night terrors. Both were brought on anytime they went to bed in an overtired state. My daughter doesn't have night terrors as often now (she's 8) but she'll still sleep walk on occasion when gone to bed overtired.

I've been to a sleep specialist for myself (hypersomnia - not linked to sleep walking or night terrors), but he explained that it is usually hereditary and sometimes will go away as adulthood comes around.

My middle child went through this (now she sleepwalks)... first, talk to your pediatrician; you can't beat their advice.

Just be patient and keep doing what you're doing. Don't be surprised if he ever sits straight up in bed and has his eyes wide open screaming through you... not AT you; he doesn't know you're there, but almost through you. Scary stuff for parents too! It's a phase; almost all kids grow out of it.

Sometimes my daughter will have one now, but they're far and few between. I don't know if there's a direct link between night terrors and sleepwalking, but yes, she now sleepwalks ;)

Just my boys, and my ex husband. All three had night terrors when young and now talk and occationally walk in their sleep.

It always came on when they were over tired.

Never saw it after two and a half.

You do have to make sure they don't hurt themselves. I got several black eyes trying to protect them. I did ask my pediatrician about waking them up and whether that is harmful. He said you can't wake them up so why bother but if they wake up it isn't harmful at all.

to be simple..... night terrors are caused because he can't "shut off" his brain. So think of like he's just burning off energy. it's only a terror for YOU. But yes, it's terrifying for anyone who watches.

sometimes it can last until around 2yo. That's when they actually begin to have the capacity to 'dream'.

There is NOTHING you can do, except don't wake him up. and make sure his environment is 'safe' - so bumpers on the crib, no blanket if you think he'll twist it around himself etc. If he still has them when he moves to a regular bed, use side rails.

No, I don't believe it's linked with sleepwalking - those are 2 different functions of the brain. But the same person might have both.

Remember- NOT poor little guy. He doesn't even know he's having them and it truly doesn't affect him at all. poor mama who has has to watch!!!!!!!! I feel for you.

My 5 yr old son appears to have grown out of his night terrors (he hasn't had one in almost 8 months, knock on wood). But he is still a very very heavy sleeper (he MUST go potty before bedtime or there will be an accident). He really only started having them at age 4 and had only had about 6 or 7 of them. They are very scary for parents, but he never remembered a thing the next day. We found they usually came on only after a very busy day we he was completely exhausted. And while we did not wake him up, we found that if we gently persuaded him to go to the bathroom and go potty during the night terror, he actually woke himself up and gave us a funny little look like how did you get here and then he went back to sleep peacefully and never remembered a thing. Hang in there momma - just make sure he gets enough rest during the day and keep his bedtime routine as much as you can - this too will pass and he won't remember.

My son did this starting when he was about 18 months and it lasted for a couple of years. It was not every night but regularly. He was clearly not awake and didn't respond or seem to recognize us. He would get more upset if we tried to do anything than if we left him alone and just checked on him every few minutes. He seems to have outgrown them now at 4.5 y.o.

The only thing I read that gave any possible reason for them said that they think it may be a problem transitioning from one stage of sleep to another - it's like they get stuck between stages. Eventually, they make the transition and calm down. They are usually much worse for the parent than the child who doesn't have any memory of them. They bother me and my husband a whole lot more than they ever bothered my son.

As others have said, they seemed to happen most when he was over-tired.

I feel for you! I don't care if they don't remember them. They are heartbreaking and horrifying to witness. My son had them very young too. We noticed when he was too warm often triggered them. Make sure he isn't layered up.
Good luck and they do pass.

I had night terrors as a kid. They lasted for a few months, but mine started when I was five. I didn't even know they could have them that young! Poor guy. I don't think you can do anything to curb them, but my mom said mine were worse when something was going on. For example, my dad thought he was going to lose his job. My mom was really worried and I guess I sensed it because I started having awful dreams of losing my father. Babies can pick up stress too, maybe that is it? It's just he is so young that seems pretty far fetched...wished I could help more.

It is developmental based.
It is involuntary.
Both my kids had night-terrors.
It is a phase.
It passes.
Being over-tired can sometimes make it worse.
It is not sleep-walking.

It also reflects their changing cognition and REM sleep.

They don't know they are doing this. They don't do it on purpose.
At this young age, they don't even have, impulse-control.

It passes.

And YES, many babies have their own way of going back to sleep. IF you 'interrupt' this process... it makes it WORSE.
Let him.... fall asleep on his own. Since he IS doing this.

Just look up "Night Terrors" online.

My son had terrible night terrors when he was younger. Now that he is 7 years old it happens maybe once every two months and they are very mild. The Dr was right, not much you can do except soothe them. They won't remember anything and it's more traumatic for the parent. I've found that being overly tired can cause them or a scary movie or show can cause them too. When my son used to nap I always expected one when he missed his nap.