Toddler night terror or something else?

[Yotrotro]

My DS is generally a good toddler, has the odd meltdown when tired etc but generally not that bad in the scheme of things.

For as long as I can remember now, he goes to bed in his own bed fine but at either 10pm or 3am most nights will wake/cry and then come cosleep with us.

Just now he's woken up, screaming, but when we go in he's just shouting Nooooo! Mummy/Daddy. Then flails around to the point of banging his head/body against the wall etc. This goes on for a solid 15mins of screaming and nothing being a comfort, throwing everything away. He then goes back to sleep in his own bed eventually.

It's awful, god knows what the neighbours think!

Is this some sort of night terror or tantrum at not wanting to be awake?!? Or something else entirely. He's never pushed away comfort from either of us in the daytime.

Sounds like night terrors. If you know what time he's likely to have one, apparently disturbing their sleep shortly before helps as it disturbs the sleep cycle. So not properly wake up, but just rouse slightly. Worth a try

They have odd dreams which frighten and wake them, it isn't unusual. He will outgrow this but in the meantime, he will feel secure co-sleeping.

Give him a good cuddle.

Trying to give him a cuddle is impossible, he throws himself around all over the place trying to get away and I'm worried he'll hurt himself! It happened a few weeks ago and he did end up with a few bruises on his shins etc as he hit his bed trying to kick me away

I'll give the waking a bit earlier a go to see if that helps avoid them.

My DS did similar a few weeks ago and turned out to have an ear infection. It might be worth checking whether he’s in any pain?

Ahh that's interesting, he is prone to ear infections but hasn't had one in a while (touch wood). He's going through a teething phase at the moment with one of the back teeth coming through so could maybe be that!

@Yotrotro my colleague said "my mother says there’s only two reasons they wake screaming at night - ears or teeth". I mean, don't know how accurate that is but said mother has brought up four kids, so she does at least have some experience 😊

@solania your mum was onto something! It turns out my poor little one is not only cutting molars but also has a throat and ear infection so triple whammy!

[quote Yotrotro]@solania your mum was onto something! It turns out my poor little one is not only cutting molars but also has a throat and ear infection so triple whammy![/quote]
Oh no! What a combination 😭 I do hope all is better soon!