The night terrors have gone but ...

[REIDmylips]

Thank you to all who gave advice on why ds was waking during the early evening. That problem has gone. However we now have a new problem.

The last 3 nights ds has woke up around midnight for no apparent reason he is just suddenly wide awake. I have no idea why but once he wakes he is up for around 2 hours!! i try to keep him in his cot but it isnt easy because he just wants to play. Does any one have any experience or advice. I feel a bit like a stuck record here but i dont know how many more nights of this i can take!

Thankyou.

Is he sreaming when he wakes up?
If not I would just leave him.
If he is crying I would keep going in, lying him down, first few times saying 'it's night time' then after that no eye contact, no talking. He'll soon gt the message that in cot and darkness means sleep and not playing.

He isn't screaming. First night was a bit of a cry, next time he woke asking for 'mummy' then whinging. I do try to leave him but he will cry for 2 hours!

anyone?

how old is he? is he napping during the day?

he's 19 months and has 1 nap around dinner time. It can be anything beween 45 mins to an hour and a half.

has anything changed in his routine or is he poorly?

i'd be inclined to think its just a phase that won't last, I can imagine its frustrating though.

I'd agree with posie about the non-eye contact thing. When my DS did this i would just lay him back down, pat his back going shhh shhh shhh for a bit until he calmed down and then leave him.

Does he seem tired the next morning for having been awake? If not, maybe put him to bed a bit later so he's really tired.

Nothing has changed in his routine, he doesnt seem any more tired in the morning as a result of being up. Keeping him up later isnt really an option because he is more or less always tired at the same time each night which is hen i put him to bed. (between half 6 and 7)

He is on medication for a poorly tummy but he has had this for months so dont think that is making any difference.

Regaring the no eye contact etc, i am doing this, rub his back etc until he calms down. The only trouble is as soon as i leave the room he starts screaming again!

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