2yr old waking in night, crying, screaming, but NOT night terrors

[runnyhabbit]

I'm sorry if this has been done before.

Ds1 has just turned 2, and for the past week or so, he's waking at about 2am, crying/screaming his heart out. If we don't go into see him, he'll come to us, and because we have 7wk old ds2, he'll end up coming in bed with us (because we all want some sleep) and goes straight back to sleep. But I know that this is making a rod for our own backs.

At first we thought ds2 was waking him, but as ds2 is now sleeping more at night, its the otherway round.

We haven't changed anything about his routine - still goes to nursery, has meals at the same time etc

Apart from when ds1 was newborn, he's always slept in his own bed, and been a really good sleeper, going from 7/8pm through to 6/7am. This sleep disruption is now really affecting his day, and my happy little boy, is not so happy during the day.

How do you know it's not night terrors?

Because he seems quite awake, and aware, iyswim.

If we've gone into his room to comfort him, he starts crying again as soon as we leave his room.

From what I've read about night terrors, lo don't seem to realise they're crying. I'm sure that ds1 knows what he's doing.

Am I wrong? Could he be having night terrors?

Oh, I don't know, sorry. My DD is 16 months and also wakes up screaming every now and then - not v. often, maybe once a month. I have always assumed it must be a nightmare, or maybe teething pain. She has also done the thing where she calms down but then starts crying when I leave the room. I then get her in bed with me. Don't really think of it as "rod for my own back" because I love cuddling up with her! When she is asleep I pick her up and pop her back in her cot. Like I say, doesn't happen very often. I remember being little and having nightmares and getting in my parents bed. I used to feel so safe and secure there. I just think it's part of being little.