Asleep but 'panicky' breathing the wakes frightened

[gildergirl]

Anyone else have this? DS2 19mths - sleeping then episodes of three/four short inbreaths then long exhale - like sobbing - can go on for 20/30 mins then wakes crying frightened. Can take ages to calm him, back to sleep then starts all over again. Tow/three times a week then ok for couple of weeks. Is it brain fizz? Growing/ or like a fit? Or nightmares?
Really puzzled and bit worried.

Don't know, gildergirl, but bumping for you.

dd2 gets sleep apnoea (stops breathing for a few long seconds, followed by gasping for breath) when she has a cold - she has a floppy larynx and fairly large tonsils, which together mean she has a narrower airway than most. Is your ds a noisy sleeper?

It could be nightmares, but ongoing sleep apnoea is tiring....I would check it out with GP, I think.

Hope someone else can help!

my dd has been doing this for the last 6 months, she has just turned one.

if i get to her quick enough we can minimise the waking up and crying and she will go back down

think its just funny dreams as their brain develops. when she was smaller and still breastfed dh was convinced she was having a nightmare of a world with no boobs in it