What the hell was THAT all about?!

[GeorginaA]

Just ran upstairs because ds1 (3 years old) woke up screaming and crying. Akra took him out of bed to give him a cuddle and it was almost like a full blown tantrum. Any attempt to find out what was wrong was met with a loud and forceful "NO!" A couple of times he was almost sick by hyperventilating and coughing. Eventually he calmed down enough to go to the potty, was put back in bed after lots of cuddles and reassurance that we loved him. We're now back downstairs with absolutely no clue what that was all about.

Nightmare? Night Terror? Hurt himself? Feeling ill? Tantruming in his sleep?

exasperated shrug

Please god let that be a one off.

sounds awful GeorginaA but can offer only sympathy not advice I'm afraid as I have no idea what it might have been. SOmeone will reply I'm sure who has experienced a similar event. Large glass of wine for you me thinks.

GeorginaA - it sounds very much a like a night terror to me, and they are very distressing to observe. DS1 used to have them regularly, and occasionally still has one now.

We were told (probably on here!) the best thing to do was not to pick him up or hug him, but just stay near him and speak quietly and gently, but not to attempt to wake him or to communicate with him if he wasn't being coherent. He often cried and shouted, but never remembered anything in the morning.

We find he's more likely to have one if he is allowed to overheat.

HTH

I wondered if it was a night terror just after the event as it did seem to match the symptoms as it were, but he seemed so awake?! Didn't occur to us at the time not to pick him up at the time Poor mite, must have been such a shock to wake up and find himself somewhere else. The incoherent bit matches as well... was a while before we got the screamed "NO!" part...

It really freaked me out - was terrified that he had suddenly been struck ill and was in pain or something until he seemed more angry than anything else. Trying desperately to think of something in the day that might of triggered it...

It does sound like a night terror, Georgina. Dd used to get them and as Roisin says, it's best to leave them alone as trying to wake them seems to distress them even more. We would just wait until she calmed down and then settle her back into bed. The good news is that, unlike nightmares, they have no memory of it next day.

Sounds like a form of night terrors. My ds aged 4 started having them when he was about 2 and a half. He has two different types, one type is when he is screaming and crying and you go to settle him, but he doesn't know you are there and continues to scream and cry. We just hold his hand till he calms down and occassionally reasure him but he cannot hear us. I stay in the room till he calms down. The second type he has is exactly like your ds1, he will become almost posessed (really he does) and he will be aggressive and tell us "No, get off" but he is asleep but conscious of our voices. So I will sit on his bedroom floor till he settles himself and then I will sooth him and tell him it is alright and we love him. He knows nothing in the morning, now this has gone on for nearly 2 years we don't mention anything in the morning at all. They tend to happen more if hre has had a busy day or if he is overtired. Hopefully it may be a one off Ds1 has them about once maybe twicw a week, usually once.

My kids get nightmares if they get 2 hot. Very easy 2 happen in this weather.

Moosh - have you tried lightening his bedclothes? It's just ds1 had frequent night terrors (3 or 4 a week), and a friend said it can be due to overheating. I was very sceptical, but decided to try it - we got a super-light duvet and thin pyjamas, and the NTs reduced instantly to about 1 a month.

Might be worth a try!