Toddler waking up hysterically crying

[NotBehindTheRadiatorPlease]

Hi all. DD is 19 months and normally a pretty good sleeper bar the odd unsettled night. However, every night for the past week or so she's woken up hysterically crying and screaming.

She will go to bed fine and sleep for 3/4 hours, but then wake up absolutely hysterical. We try offering her milk or water, putting layers on in case she's cold, taking layers off in case she's hot, giving her calpol in case it's her teeth, nothing works. She just screams and cries, even when we're holding her She does calm down and go back to sleep eventually, but it's so distressing not knowing what's wrong or how to help.

She's totally happy and contented in the day, so I'm baffled!

Thank you

Ear infection?

Night terrors they say, start around age 3, but maybe they do start earlier, it sounds horrible.

Have you changed the type of milk, could it be colic type pain?

Has anyone else been looking after her, maybe a change to her routine?

What time does she go to bed, if it is due to tiredness I read to bring bedtime earlier, not later so they don't miss the window of opportunity of tiredness and get a second wind later on.

Just a few suggestions, ignore them if they are no help!

Night terrors?

@Garman I don't think so, she's perfectly happy in the day and has no other sign of an ear infection (no temperature, no pulling on her ears or anything).

Could be night terrors? My DD will sometimes wake up hysterical and won't be comforted at all until she actually fully wakes up.

@Ernieshere not changed the type of milk (been on cows milk since 12 months and she doesn't have much anymore anyway), no one else has looked after her. She goes to bed between 6:30-7pm as she's absolutely knackered by then. Doesn't nap in the day (hasn't for months).

Might be worth getting her checked for an ear or sinus infection anyway just to rule it out, my dc woke screaming often, never had any symptoms of ear infections but it actually was the cause, fluid trapped after an infection that hadn't showed at all.

Try propping her up a bit with pillows, if it is her ears the laying flat will probably be making it more painful.

My ds had night terrors like you describe op - utterly traumatising for me, he was completely fine during the day. He was never quite awake iykwim during the night terror. Comfort, soothe and return to bed was the best advice, soon became less frequent. He does seem to have inherited my vivid dreams though, maybe that has something to do with it.

I agree with PPs that it sounds like a night terror. Far more distressing for the person watching than the person having it. The distinctive thing about night terrors compared to nightmares is that the person isn't awake and they have no memory of it afterwards, so she won't be distressed by it.

My DS had this about the same age. It seems counterintuitive but we found he calmed down much quicker if we made sure he was fully awake. We’d put the lights on, read a book, then almost do the bedtime routine again (quickly!). I think it was night terrors and when we cuddled him in the dark he didn’t come out of them.

@Morred

My DS had this about the same age. It seems counterintuitive but we found he calmed down much quicker if we made sure he was fully awake. We’d put the lights on, read a book, then almost do the bedtime routine again (quickly!). I think it was night terrors and when we cuddled him in the dark he didn’t come out of them.

This exactly. DS, DSS and I all had them. Talk, talk, talk. Lights on, go for a wee then have a drink, cuddle and, if necessary a soothing story.

I'd also say night terrors. Both of my dc have been through it around a similar age. They are very active dreamers, lots of talking, laughing and even signing in their sleep. Dc2 has been known to sleep crawl out of bed too!

As the above poster said, we turned on lights to try and help them come out of it, then once calm, cuddles and songs to settle them again. I believe lots of children go through it around now and it must be somewhat developmental, it doesn't seem to last too long, having them that regularly.