can a 12 month old have nightmares?

[howaboutacuppa]

Just that really. Last night my DD woke up about 10.45 screaming blue murder and didn't settle back to sleep herself as she normally does if she stirs in the night. When I went in she was still lying down with her eyes closed but screaming and crying. I comforted her, but this woke her up properly and then it took 2 hours for her to go back to sleep! I gave her some calpol incase it was pain, but that didn't work so I think it was something else.

She has done exactly this once before, about 2 weeks ago (except we were up for 3 hours trying to settle her that time...)

Yes I think so - my DS 11mo occasionally (once every 2-3 weeks) wakes up in the middle of the night screaming his head off in what is unmistakeable terror :( the only thig that settles him is beig brought into bed for a cuddle and to fall back to sleep with his head wedged in my armpit (see thread I started today)...

aw bless him Botticelli. I have never ever in my life managed to get my DD to fall asleep in bed with me. I think she must be the only baby ever who doesn't like it. She's happy to be there but will lie there for a bit and then start stroking our faces and playing! I'm so used to her settling herself that I struggle to find another way of getting her back to sleep when this has happened a couple of times.

I think it must be a nightmare or terror as there seems to be no other solution. She wants to be with me, but won't actually fall asleep if I'm with her!