Night Terrors 6 year old

[justaminutedarling]

My dd has been having night terrors since January and it's happening almost every night. It seems to have coincided with losing my Mum but we're 7 months down the line now and we're starting to get worried.

Having trawled the internet we know that nothing much can be done and GP's don't have any answers so we haven't taken her to the doctors (partly because we don't want to make it worse by worrying her)

I just wondered if anyone has any advice or has had a similar experience with a child this age and the length of time this has been going on? I really hope it's true that it's doing her no harm but it's not doing us a lot of good!!!

The easy options are allowing her to sleep with the light on (a dimmer switch for the over head light may help). Night lights and lamps cast scary shadows and don't throw out much light, she may want more light.

Sleeping with the door open and the landing or bathroom light also left on over night night help too. I also keep my own bedroom door ajar, so child always knows that the route to my room is lit and easy if scared.

Also ask her specifically what she is scared of. I remember as a child that the way my bedroom curtains were gathered at the top made a shadow that looked like a witches head at night.

Image is able to tell you anything, di not dismiss it as not real. It is very real to her and she is frightened of whatever it is. So saying "you don't need to be frightened. It's not real" is just dismissing her and is very much unhelpful.

If she tells you what is scared, validate her: "I think I would be scared if i saw/thought that at night". Then work out ways to make things less scary. Some examples:

• under the bed scary? Put a lamp under there and leave it on. Likewise too top of wardrobe or other dark corners of the room. Make them not dark.
• scary monsters? Water spray with colouring, scent or glitter in it is great "monster repellent". Spray liberally and let her have some at night. Discretely take note of how much she is using.
• Scared being alone (a possibility given the circumstances), give her your "special teddy". You can have shop bought something in secret, or an old teddy. Make up a back story of how special the teddy is to you and how well teddy looked after you. Say teddy cuddles are there for you all night every night.
• similar to above, something that smells of you may help her feel comforted. Could you swap pillows so she has your unwashed pillow case for a while?

If all else fails, I would set up a floor bed for her in your room. Or you in her room. View it as a reset, a way to build up her feelings of security and safety at night so that she can build her confidence to go back in on her own

I know exactly how you are feeling as my ds aged 7 started to have night terrors 3 weeks ago. He has had at least one a night since then. It's horrible to watch and I feel so helpless. He remembers in the morning he has had one although doesn't seem to be aware how bad they actually are. He says he has nothing worrying him. Any tips on this would be greatly appreciated. Sorry, I have no answers for you however at least you know you are not alone in this. Xxx