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Original poster

Help DS is screaming his head off!!

17 replies

cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:00

Second night in a row my ds 2.5 has woken up and screamed the place down. I think it is nightmares. Last night I was up all night - not an exaggeration and was dreading it happening again and oh joy he is currently screaming the place down. What do I do - Im shattered so is he, dd sleeps through it? He cant talk yet so cant communicate what is wrong. Could it be the fact he started nursery this week? But then why didnt this start that night? Help I dont understand!!

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:04

Could it be night terrors?

When you try and soothe him does he seem almost oblivious to you being there?

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:04

Last night he did yes, even when I picked him up he didnt stop took himages to come round.

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:08

My two have both suffered from night terrors.

Its really difficult because you can't really get through to them, they tend to scream/cry/shout whilst staring at a random point talking gibberish.

If it is night terrors in your DS's case I think you're supposed to just talk calmly and reassuringly, try and settle them down but just be aware that they won't remember anything about it the next day.

Hopefully its just a blip brought on by the changes of starting nursery

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Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:11

Dont know if it is those then as when I asked if he had a bad dream last night he started to sob again. Through signs we deduced that I was in the dream so god knows what is going on in his head. Feel very helpless though that something probably nursery is bothering him that much,

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:13

Maybe it isn't night terrors then (also night terrors don't tend to go on through the night IME which you mentioned in your OP).

How did the staff at nursey say that he got on? Did he seem to mind going there?

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:18

First day fine as his friend was there. Second morning all hell broke loose - they rang at 11 and said he had settled abit but wasnt 'wildy enthusiastic'! First time he has ever been looked after by anyone but us or grandparents though.

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:24

Its early days with nursery though . My DS (3.5) took a while to settle at nursery and, even now, he has the odd blip (for example after a long break from nursery over Xmas).

I found that a sticker chart really helped to focus him on not getting upset about going. His big sister helped make it and encourages him too.

Sorry I can't come up with any magic solutions

brimfull · 12/01/2008 22:25

Could it be an ear infection?

Kids wake up with pain despite seeming fine before falling asleep.

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:29

Sticker chart is a great idea betty thanks.
ggirl its a possibility has had that norovirus, now a bad cough and bright red cheeks and ears. Might get him checked out on monday.

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:31

Or has he eaten anything different in the last couple of days? Could he be having problems digesting something/have tummy ache thats making him restless?

BibiThree · 12/01/2008 22:34

DD had night terrors at around that age, and occasionally still gets them. Don't know what to do about them except offer comfort and if it helps calm them down, put the lights on. I'd rather have an awake calm child than a screaming half asleep one any day. And you've got a better chance of settling a calm child back to sleep.

I compeltely sympathise, it's horribe not being able to do anything about it. Maybe a sip of water, a cuddle and a bit of distraction - we sometimes talked to dd about what her fish was doing, "oooh, look at Luigi swimming around, do you think he's hungry?" etc until she'd forgotten about her dream.

best of luck tonight. x

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:36

Today is the first day he has actually eaten anything properly in at least a week with this hideous virus. Its all gone quiet now so I hope that will be it. You get to a stage where there is no point going to sleep as you will just have to get up again. Will def take him to doc I think and get him mot'd.

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 12/01/2008 22:38

Hope you get a restful night

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 22:45

Thanks am going to go to bed now in the vain hope of getting an hour before one of the dc wakes up.

OP posts:
Madoldcatlady · 12/01/2008 22:50

DD3 has night terrors. She can have them all night once she gets started. The best way, I find, to break the cycle is either for her to have a wee or a drink of water.

I think it just raises their level of awareness enough to snap out of the terrors.

DD can talk to me mid terror, but I can tell by the look in her eyes that she's not really with me but still dreaming and I then become part of the dream. It's very scary for her.

Original poster
cathshuck · 12/01/2008 23:02

Will take water up with me just incase then. At least in most cases we can shake our selves out of a nightmare, he was hysterical. Hopefully he will be ok tonight. THanks everyone

OP posts:
BettySpaghetti · 13/01/2008 16:19

How was your DS last night cathshuck?

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