Nightmares

I believe that Alivea is having nightmares. This is the second time this week she has woken up in the middle of the night hysterical! The only thing that calms her is if I hold her, this usually means all nite long! They have been good sleepers, sleeping 12 hours a nite since they were 10 months old. I dont know what to do! I dont want to get in the habit of me holding her all nite long but I cant let her scream in her crib hysterically! Did anyone else have this happen at 18 months old? What helped you?

She is also teething but I dont believe this is the problem. I put Oragel on her gums last nite but it didnt help. She was so terrified she wouldnt let go of my neck. Any advise?

ETA: She also isnt napping well. She wakes up about 30-45 minutes into her nap crying hysterically as well...

 

QUOTE(angie7 @ Aug 23 2007, 01:26 AM) [snapback]376057[/snapback]
I believe that Alivea is having nightmares. This is the second time this week she has woken up in the middle of the night hysterical! The only thing that calms her is if I hold her, this usually means all nite long! They have been good sleepers, sleeping 12 hours a nite since they were 10 months old. I dont know what to do! I dont want to get in the habit of me holding her all nite long but I cant let her scream in her crib hysterically! Did anyone else have this happen at 18 months old? What helped you?

She is also teething but I dont believe this is the problem. I put Oragel on her gums last nite but it didnt help. She was so terrified she wouldnt let go of my neck. Any advise?

ETA: She also isnt napping well. She wakes up about 30-45 minutes into her nap crying hysterically as well...


I know it must be frustrating. Lanie used to do the same thing. It lasted for a month or so. I think at that age , they say they are "night terrors" instead of dreams, but I often wondered if it could be a little of both. Sounds like you know when she is going to wake up. So, try to wake her a bit before that time arrives and see if that helps to eliminate them. I would do this with Lanie and it worked most of the time. She would usually wake a few times a week and then outgrew them. Could she also be working on her back teeth?? Good luck!!

 

QUOTE(R2cuties @ Aug 23 2007, 01:53 AM) [snapback]376101[/snapback]
I know it must be frustrating. Lanie used to do the same thing. It lasted for a month or so. I think at that age , they say they are "night terrors" instead of dreams, but I often wondered if it could be a little of both. Sounds like you know when she is going to wake up. So, try to wake her a bit before that time arrives and see if that helps to eliminate them. I would do this with Lanie and it worked most of the time. She would usually wake a few times a week and then outgrew them. Could she also be working on her back teeth??


Thanks so much! The first time was at 3:30am, the second was at 2:30am. She isnt waking everyday, it started early Monday morning and early this morning so she slept through the nite in between. I read that night terrors is where the child doesnt respond to the parent, they are confused and like they are still in the dream and inconsolible? She isnt like this. She knows who I am and that I am coming to get her and she wont stop grabbing my neck, she just wont let go of it, no matter what I do...

She has cut 2 molars thus far so I know they are coming in but this doesnt sound like teething pain to me. She just acts so terrified. She is fine during the day, not cranky (other then when she gets tired), she is eating very well, and overall happy throughout the day. I am so confused.... <_<

 

Mine get very clingy at night when they don't feel well. Playing is a good distraction so the discomfort doesn't bother them during the day but when they try to relax, they notice it more. We had lots of night wakings during the peak of teething (the canines were HORRIBLE). I knew it was teething when I gave them Tylenol and 15 minutes later you could feel their bodies relax.

It's also possible that she is going through another round of separation anxiety. I've heard it's quite common as they near 2.

Both of these are very different from night terrors. With the night terrors, they freak out and are inconsolable during the event as they are not really awake. They scream and thrash and if you try to pick them up they panic and try to get away because they have no idea it's you.