Night Terrors?

[MummyO4]

Hi, Firstly, I am new to this site but thought maybe being an experienced mother of 4 children, 3 boys and 1 daughter now 28,26,21 & 12 I may be able to help some of you parents with a few problems that you may have as I know how hard Mummyhood can be!

Night Terrors,
Yes, I had to deal with my first son waking up every night at the same time screaming. It was a job to wake him up from the terror. Sound familiar? - I found out what caused it!! and he never had another one and none of my other children had one either. I cut out SODIUM BENZOATE from their diets and low and behold that was the total end of night terrors.
Sodium Benzoate is a preservative generally found in fruit squashes and similar. Soidium Metabisulphate was OK and didn't seem to have an affect.
Another tell tale sign that Sodium Benzoate causes is a little red/sore patch around the mouth. So, if you cut out Sodium Benzoate, you will have a sleeping child without a rash around the mouth!

I would really like to know out of interest if it works for you too. I have been able to tell many mums about this over the years and they are amazed once it is out of their system the change in their child. I could never believe that doctors/health visitors didn't know either!

DS drinks only water and milk, yet still has night terrors. DH has always suffered from them too and he doesn't drink fruit squashes either. I think it's hereditary in some cases and a normal part of toddlerhood in others.

my son had night terrors for years and we found that screen time before bed was the culprit

Hi, Sodium Benzoate is a preservative in many other food stuffs also, it pays to read the labels. Out of interest did they have the red sore/rash anywhere near the mouth?

My DD has night terrors at stressful times or when brewing for an ear infection. She doesn't have sores but does suffers from multiple mouth ulcers ... Could this be the same thing? Thanks.

Hi, Bluebumedfly, - at a guess it could well be something in her food, there are so many additives that have all sorts of reactions. The best thing to do is the way I did it. Rather than drive yourself insane wondering what on earth is on a label that could be responsible, is to look back at food/drink labels as soon as possible after a night terror or the mouth ulcers appear and see if there is a pattern appearing after a certain meal/food/drink eaten.

I wish you luck and hope DD doesn't suffer too many night terrors or ulcers.

Thanks Mummy04, sound advice