Almost 5 year old son cries in his sleep and is inconsolable.

[Narketta]

I don't know what to do!!

This happens at least once a week, I will hear him crying normally around 1 and a half to 2 hours after he's fallen asleep.

I go to him and he is sitting up in bed with a glazed expression not really aware that i'm in the room. If I talk to him or try to comfort him he goes into complete meltdown and pushes me away. He speaks but I can't understand what he's saying.

I've taken to leaving the room and standing outside his door until I hear him calming down and then go back into him but this can sometimes take 10-15 minutes and its so frustrating because I just want to hug him and make him feel better but he won't let me.:(

When I speak to him in the morning he can never remember crying.

Does anyone else have a DC that does this?

yes, it's a night terror, very common, Google has loads of info!

can't post links from ipad but google 'night terrors children first' and a great site comes up.

Could this be like sleepwalking - ie he's not actually awake at all and you talking is interrupting his dream/thoughts? Is there something happening in his life that he might be processing in his dreamsleep? I know I would feel very distressed if it happened with my children; you must feel at a loss to know how best to help. Really hope someone else has good suggestions for what you can do...

yes, it is related to sleepwalking.

Thanks so much Fanjo:) I will have a google. He always seems to be worse if he's ill he's asthmatic and gets lots of chest colds at this time of year.

Night terrors. Ds's started at 6 months and he still has them (now 6.5 yrs). Always happens sometime before midnight, for us anytime from about 9pm to 11.30pm. Lasts 10 or 15 mins. Ds completely inconsolable and talks and points but I cannot get any sense out of him.

He used to stay in bed when it happens but now he gets up and I usually find him in my room. I try and tell him that I'm there but mostly it is just about keeping him safe and ensuring he gets back to his bed.

Yes, night terrors. Has happened to DD. It is terrifying to watch. The first time we thought she was having a seizure. Stressful situations trigger it for her (first time DH dropped her whilst changing nappy).

I had night terrors when I was a toddler and I have to this day no memory of them. It's a lot worse for the parents watching than the child if my memories are anything to go by. My mum says that she and my dad were having problems at the time that I was having the night terrors and thinks that's what caused them but I honestly didn't have a clue that it had even happened and I can remember people trying to get me tell them what I'd been dreaming about but I have no idea.

What do you do when you DC are screaming? Am I doing the right thing by leaving him to calm down by his self?

It feels so wrong to let him cry but I don't see what else I can do.

I stay with him and talk to him until he goes back to sleep. Personally I wouldn't leave him on his own. He is too upset for that.

I should add that nothing I say or do stops his sobbing and screaming but if he woke up from it I want him to know I am there (he never does wake up).

My GP advised waking my ds about an hour after he fell asleep - not wide awake but just gently awaken him perhaps offering him a drink. I believe the idea was to alter the sleep rhythm or pattern - it actually worked. Though this was a couple of years ago so maybe speak to GP and see if they advise this in your case. Hope this helps.

Night Terroers are awful. DS1 (5 next week) had his first in months the other night.
I find trying to cuddle or comfort him makes him worse so I just sit near him chatting, telling him I'm there helps me not feel so useless. not sure if it helps him though.
Caffeine - I believe that is still current advice.

Yes, sounds like night terrors. Awful to witness. He's not fully awake so no point talking to him. Just carry on watching and make sure he's safe. It will stop. See if there's anything during the day worrying him. Or it might just be a developmental thing.

my nearly 6 yo son has them, horrible. We always take him to the toilet (even tho he wears a nappy) as sometimes he needs a wee and then wakes up enough to settle back down. This doesn't always work but does prob 9\10 times.

my nearly 6 yo son has them, horrible. We always take him to the toilet (even tho he wears a nappy) as sometimes he needs a wee and then wakes up enough to settle back down. This doesn't always work but does prob 9\10 times.

Poor you - night terrors are really horrible to witness!

DD1 is 6 and goes through phases of having them - usually when she has been over-tired or is too hot .

She cries and talks nonsence and thrashes around , but has no memory of it later .

I just sit with her to make sure she doesn't hurt herself and sometimes talk to her softly .

DD2 is 2 and I suspect she has had them on a few occasions when she;s woken screaming but with that glazed , unseeing look. It can be quite freaky but I do think DD1 is starting to grow out of them now.

My four-year-old DD has these as well - also, always about 90 minutes or so after she falls asleep. It's horrible, but it seems to be quite common, as this thread proves.

We just stay in the room with her as otherwise she gets more distressed. Sometimes she wants to cuddle; other times it's just a case of making sure she doesn't hurt herself.