Nightmare or Night Terror?

Our 2 1/2 DS just started having night terrors, as well. I'm definitely going to try Heather's idea tonight as he is a hot sleeper. Our doctor said we can wake him. It can take as much as 30 minutes to do. You can take her outside or give her something to drink. At least take her out of her room. Our DS does look awake, but we can tell a difference when he does finally wake up. I've always heard not to wake them, but it does seem to make it last a lot less time. The doctor said that's what he does with his son who has them. He goes back to bed with no problem. GL! I'm definitely checking back to see if you get some good ideas.

Most kids go through night terrors at some point. The difference is they don't last but a few weeks. All you can do is comfort her and hold her until she wakes up more or goes back to sleep. My son went through this a few times at this age. She could be teething too, cutting molars is painful and can cause wakings at night. See if that could be the culprit.
I wouldn't be freaked out, just right now her brain is becoming more aware of reality, that cause and effect and that there are changes going on. That is alot for toddlers how live in a very narrow scoped world right now. It is normal, just roll with it and if it lasts for more then a few weeks ask your Pediatrician for tips.
Nightmares are triggered typically by something and happen randomly. Night terrors are where they are seemingly terrified and awake but they are not awake and hard to calm down. Nightmares you can calm them down a lot easier and get them back to sleep.
Hang in there.

My almost 2 year old son had night terrors. He will start screaming and throws himself around. I found found what works best for him is to get a cold face cloth and gently rub it on his face to wake him up. He wakes up for a minutes, then goes right back into a peacefull sleep.
Hope this helps.

my three year old daughter does this. it is a night terror. the reason you can't calm them down is they aren't really awake. the only thing i have found to calm my daughter is the shushing sound you would use to calm a child or infant. and if that doesn't wake i pick her up to wake her up. they do grow out of this. it is caused by there nervous system developing faster at this age range. there really is no way to stop it. you just learn to cope until it goes away.

I had night terrors as a child. Mine were because I used TONS of blankets and would get hot. My Mom would wake me (at least the first 2 or 3 times) because my screams scared her. I had no idea why she was waking me in the middle of the night.

My oldest has shown a tendency to want to sleep warm - she wears flannel pj's and uses 4 blankets. So, when I get ready to go to bed, I just go in and pull all but one blanket down. I haven't been fast enough sometimes and she has come out of her room and acted odd a time or 2. But if I get there and pull her blankets down, she doesn't seem bothered by them.

So, my suggestion is to check her blankets. Make sure she will be warm, not hot. See if that helps, it did for me!