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Behaviour/development

Night terrors?

6 replies

TommyMummy · 06/10/2019 20:21

My 10month old has recently started waking more often in the night. although I understand some babies go through a sleep regression phase around this age, him waking up isn't the problem it's how he wakes up.

He will be absolutely fine then all of a sudden wake screaming, no crying or tears just screeching. Sometimes he will have his eyes wide open and push away from me when I try to comfort him. It often takes 10mins or so to get him back off to sleep. This happens at least four times a night.

He sleeps in a cot in our room, waking like this happens regardless of being in his cot or in our bed. It is petrifying to watch as he is just screaming for no clear reason.

Has this happened anyone else? Were they night terrors or just part of sleep regression? Did your baby grow out of it?

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cymrukernow · 10/10/2019 22:15

DD had night terrors starting when she was three, had them on and off for a couple of years. Best to just leave them go through it whilst you stay and reassure where you can. She never had a recollection of them in the morning which seemed weird as it was fairly traumatic to watch!

I wondered if there was a cause but I put it down to a vivid imagination - not a bad thing.

She is now 12 and sleeps very well.

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Kimmi94 · 11/10/2019 06:03

I was told by a psychiatrist that sometimes children as young as 10months to 3yrs have a hard time separating fantasy and reality. So whenever my daughter has nightmares she actually doesn’t open her eyes even when I carry her off my bed like as if she was in a trance. All I would do is turn on some cartoons or sing some songs til she calms down.

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TheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 12/10/2019 01:38

Mine has done this on and off since he was 3 months old. Seemed to coincide with a major developmental change. But would look to be awake but not seeing priestly, screaming, sweaty pushing me away /slapping hands off him. Could last to to 46mins. He now (at 2) greens to do it if woken too soon from a very much needed sleep. I think his brain is just fried. Try not to worry about it, it's not nice for us or then but they're intermittent and totally happy before and after

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TheLetterOfTheLawTheLetter · 12/10/2019 01:39

Sorry for all those typos!

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surreygirl1987 · 12/10/2019 09:14

My son started doing this at just before one year old. It's so annoying! At first I thought it was teething, then illness or pain, then hunger, but now I think night terrors combined with general 'leap' behaviour as once I get him out of his cot He wakes up properly and just wants to play 🤨 I've never let him cry before but we have tried letting him cry for upto 2 mins (after a quick cuddle) and actually it's worked a treat- horrible to hear but he calms himself down and drifts off again within those 2 mins thankfully. I always swore I'd never let him cry though so I understand if that's not for you!

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TommyMummy · 15/10/2019 22:25

Thank you everyone for your replies.

They seem to have eased in the last few nights. He's almost at the end of this "leap" and we sarted giving him his dinner a little earlier (incase it was linked to having an upset tummy).

So who knows! Hoping they don't come back with his next developmental leap 🤞🏼