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Parenting

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Original poster

Toddler dreams?

15 replies

MoosMa · 14/05/2007 08:07

2 nights in the last week DD1 (20 months) has woken at 3am crying and very distressed. I can't understand what she's saying, she just shouts every word she knows and wants to get out of bed and play. I don't think she's really awake properly as she doesn't make sense and seems unable to understand anything you say to her.

To calm her down I've sat her on her pottying (weeing always cheers her up!) and given her some calpol in case something hurts. Last night she was chattering and crying on and off for over 2 hours before she fell asleep again

She's not teething and doesn't appear ill so I wondered if she's dreaming and waking up frightened/confused by it. Is there anything I can do to help her? It's very upsetting seeing her like this.

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Original poster

MoosMa · 14/05/2007 08:07

That should be a on the end!

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PregnantGrrrl · 14/05/2007 08:40

could be. has she been reading any new books, or watching any new DVDs that might have caught her imagination?

fryalot · 14/05/2007 08:45

Is she waking up at the same time each time it happens? Could it be something that is disturbing her? the water tank heating up, next door neighbour coming home from the nightclub? It sounds like she is just waking up and she thinks it's time to get up because she's awake iykwim.

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Original poster

MoosMa · 14/05/2007 08:50

Nothing's really changed except she's using her potty more often during the day and I can't think of any noises that could disturb her, the only thing that's different is that I cut cheese out of her diet a week ago, but I thought cheese gave you nightmares, not prevented them!

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fryalot · 14/05/2007 08:55

it may be that she's just having dreams... they do at that age, but my dd2 always goes straight back to sleep, she doesn't want to play for hours afterwards.... you could mention it to your hv?

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 14/05/2007 08:57

my dd is a little older, 2.6 but she has recently been having dreams about monsters so id say it was likely your dd could be having dreams and nt want to go back to sleep...dont really know how to help tho! have you tried a nightlight etc?

Original poster

MoosMa · 14/05/2007 12:23

No, her room has always been very dark so maybe I'll try that for a few nights and see if it helps.

She's always been very good at getting herself back to sleep, say if DD2 wakes her up she chats for a few minutes then settles again, this is what's making it seem odd. I'm seeing the HV on thursday so I'll mention it to her too (she can be a bit useless though!).

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SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 14/05/2007 12:31

when i got dd a nightlight it worked instantly, she still stirs at night but settles back as she can see there are no monsters!

hopefully itl get better for you!

Tatat · 14/05/2007 16:48

Could your dd be having a wee which wakes her? DS 2.5 did this sort of thing when he started potty training, I think it was that he did a wee in his nappy (we still use them for naps and bedtime) and somewhere his little brain thought "oh no! You've done a wee! You should have been on the potty!" and woke him up.

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 14/05/2007 18:09

tatat that is very true as they dont wee while theyr asleep so they have to at least half wake to do a wee and might be waking up properly due to that

Dangerspouse · 14/05/2007 19:54

Hi MoosMa, other mnetters have already said this and I agree - at this age their imaginations are growing at such a rate that everything comes out in their dreams. Two of mine went through this too - one at the moment!

When it first happened it worried me so much I consulted our GP who told me this is the usual age for night terrors, slightly different from bad dreams in that they seem to be awake when you've spoken to them but are still going through the "terror". Best thing to do is to speak calmly, hold gently, put a light on and completely distract the child. The other night at 3am I put 24hr kids tv on for 15mins - totally took her mind off it and she went back to bed no problem.

Good luck, and don't worry, it's another stage that won't last forever!

Original poster

MoosMa · 14/05/2007 20:05

Thanks all, I have a few things try now so I'll see how we go...

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Original poster

MoosMa · 15/05/2007 10:00

Dangerspuse, thanks for your idea, it worked a treat! I went in to tuck her in on my way to bed as I always do, but she woke up and started going crazy again. So Dh came in, switched the light on and picked her up, cuddled her tightly, lay her down in bed and read her a story. She was very calm and almost asleep when we left the room and we didn't hear another peep from her all night

Only trouble was, she didn't want to let go of the book so she slept with Ant and Bee in her bed!

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Dangerspouse · 15/05/2007 18:53

Excellent MoosMa!

SleeplessInTheStaceym11House · 16/05/2007 09:20

moosma, i would worry about the book in bed, my dd (2.6) reads herself to sleep every night and generally wont let me take the book off her!! can be a bit embarrasing when they have the print of a book on their face in the am tho!

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