What happened last night?

[MrsST]

Just about dropped off to sleep and I woke up to DS (3 years old) crying in his sleep, found his dummy and put it back in. After about 5 minutes he was in complete distress crying and coughing like mad. To the point where I was scared he couldn't catch his breath. I tried to give him a drink but he wouldn't take it. I brought him downstairs as I was worried he'd wake up DD (4 years old) as they share a room. Anyway I bring him downstairs and he's still really bad. At this point I'm starting to panic a bit and considering ringing an ambulance as he's really struggling to talk. Next thing he manages to tell me he needs a wee so I pop him on the potty. After this he instantly calms down and wants to be put back in his bed. Didn't hear a peep for the rest of the night but I didn't sleep well as being on red alert if he starts coughing again.
No idea how coughing and needing a wee is related if at all. So just wondering if anyone can shed some light on it.

Could be a night terror? May be worth talking to your health visitor if you’re worried?

Good idea. I've not heard from mine in months, pretty much forgotten they exist.

When a toilet trained child wakes in the night or late evening crying and upset, ALWAYS put them on the loo or potty straight away. First port of call and about 90% of the time they'll go straight back to bed.

Yes if he's had a cough the needing to wee will make it harder to settle but once wee is done that should be it.

Night terrors and nightmares usually caused by a mix of overtiredness and full bladder.

The above is my mum's advice (parent of 5 and professional experience) and it's certainly proved true for mine.

Fab! Thanks so much, my thought for this evening was to wake DS up slightly to take him to the toilet before I went to bed this evening. He does still go in a nappy at night but he rarely wets it.

Good idea.

Could there have been a hair or fibre on the dummy that caught in his throat? Glad he's ok anyway.

Quick update. I've started taking DS to the toilet just before I go to sleep (10:30-11ish) and since we have had no weird night time wakings from him or any wakings for that matter!

Ah super. 12ish hours is a really long time to go without a wee, and i think sometimes they wake up distressed because they need to go but even half asleep they're still processing the new 'rule' that you must wee in the loo or potty, if that makes sense. Anyway hope that's the end of it.

My almost 4yo ds is reliably dry at night and has been for almost 2 years. He still occasionally (1 or 2 times in 6 months) wakes and will be like you described, it's almost as if he is panicking about not being able to tell us he needs a wee. I think he has bad dreams too sometimes and then he wakes needing a wee and is stressed from the dream so takes a bit of calming down. I don't bother waking him to put him on the toilet because he has been dry so long and I'd like to avoid a situation where he is trained to go at a certain time in case we leave him with babysitters or have a late night out somewhere