Night terrors

[TheLittleMe]

Hello all. Does anyone have any experience of children's night terrors? My daughter has been having them for 4 weeks now, several times a night every night, ever since we came back from our holiday.

She wakes up screaming several times a night, whether she is sleeping in our room or not. She is not properly awake while this is going on but it is very distressing for us and we are struggling to be able to calm her down and are understandably exhausted. Anyone have any tips or experiences?

My 8yr old daughter has them. She started when she was ill with glandular fever when she was 5. They were terrifying, we didn't have clue what was happening during the first few.

She still has them now and again (she had one on Wednesday night), usually if she needs a wee but doesn't wake up properly.

I got some good tips from old mumsnet threats (google 'night terrors mumsnet'). The main ones being don't try to restrain her or cuddle her. Speak calmly. Read her favourite story in a loud but calm voice - this one really works for my daughter as she stops panicking and listens. I also sing to her' and I try to guide her into my bed and lie beside her chatting calmly until she suddenly zonks off to sleep.

When she is ill she can have a few each night. They are still stressful to deal with but having a few tactics to try is making them easier to manage and a bit less stressful for her.