Screaming fit - pain or tantrumm?? 17m DS - help!!!!

[sandybee1]

My DS is 17mths and over the past few weeks he has woken up 3 times screaming. When I went to pick him up he arched his back and wriggled in his cot. When he finally let me pick him up he could not be consoled. It took about 15- 20 mins to actually calm him down. He had 2 of these "screaming fits" yesterday. One with my childminder after he woke from his afternoon nap and then one just before bedtime. Initially i thought it was a temper tantrum as he was really tired and was being a bit naughty. But it seems different. He would not let me or my DP touch him and didn't even want his blankie which usually alwasys calms him down. Nothing would distract him. In the end after 20 mins i put on the Tellytubbies to try to disctract him and my DP held him very firmly unitl he stopped resisting and he eventually calmed down.
He was absolutely fine once it had passed but it really worried me.

He does have temper tantrums from time to time but i can usually distract him or sit him on the naughty step and this always works.
I'm a bit baffled as this is happening in his sleep as well as when he is awake.
He had his mumps single vaccine last week but was fine after it. He has had a bit of a runny bum this week. Maybe it's that or do you think it could be his teeth? He is getting back ones at the moment.

Anyone got any advice??

[Mummyvicky]

Sounds like it could be night terrors ?
They wake up very scared & confused like that.
poor him, sounds horrible

[edam]

With my own ds, this would always signal the onset of illness. Usually ear infection/ vomiting (other illnesses he wanted to be comforted, ear infections nothing would comfort him at all).

Haven't got any other bright ideas, I'm afraid. But poor you and poor him - sounds miserable.

[alexw]

waking up screaming from sleep can be a sign that they were overtired when they went down... Try not to worry.

[lloydsmum]

hello...ive just started looking at mumsnet...wish id found it ages ago. my boy is now 3 1/2 and when he was between 16 months and just over 2 he went through exactly what you described. they always happened when he woke up after an afternoon nap and in the middle of the night and always lasted between 45 and 60 minutes. the worst one was on holiday in tunisia at 2.00 in the morning and he woke up nearly everyone in the hotel! he couldnt be touched either. i couldnt find any info on it but i dont think it was always night terrors as he would do it after an afternoon nap of 2 hours when we had to wake him. i really do feel for you and i think you are doing the right thing with teletubbies to distract them and take their mind of whatever it was upset them. its horrible though isnt it when they wont let you cuddle them. hope it goes away soon.