Night terrors in 5 year old

[MrsBxxx]

Hi all,

My (very nearly 5 year old) has been experiencing night terrors for a good couple of years now but we are going through a period of persistent and relentless night terrors. He is having them practically every night (and has done so for at least the last month) and one was so bad that he pooed himself during the terror.

We have tried many things. His nighttime routine is relatively consistent. We have tried to rouse him before they usually happen. We have woken him and taken him for a wee. We have cut down liquids before bed and tried to make him go to the toilet 2-3 times before bed. Sometimes the rousing or taking for a wee has triggered one.

During the night terror, he does the usual screaming and thrashing around but he also passes wind a lot (I'm not sure if this is normal). He's also going through an autism diagnosis -are they more common in autistic people?

Does anyone have any help or things to suggest? I'm at my wits end and I know children don't remember them but it's pretty distressing experience them nightly and they can't be pleasant for him at the time (even if he seemingly can't remember them in the morning). He is usually very sweaty during one and this can be both hot and cold sweats.

Any help is so appreciated. Thank you.

I clicked your thread as I got night terrors alot as a kid and through my teenage years and adulthood, so much so I can track my growing psyche based on the terrors (I remembered some) so it was rats and snakes as a kid then shadowy men in the room as a teen then all sorts of wierd random things as an adult.

I think my issue is I rarely have a totally unblocked nose so if I close my mouth in my sleep I will have a night terror which wakes me up, I believe sleep apnoea is linked to might terrors too for a similar reason. Is your son mouth breathing when he sleeps, does breath through his nose ok?

Your sons experience with the toileting issues around it sound complex though and I'd be taking him to a GP for a sleep study as it sounds like it's effecting him and you alot. Is he getting too hot at night and that's disturbing him? Could be so many things, and they do seem to come in bouts.

@Imisscoffee2021

Thanks for your reply. I've booked an appointment with the GP so hopefully that may help! X