Well, our little one has had some troubles sleeping lately. She goes down just fine, but around 1 or 2am she wakes screaming. When she was younger we could just leave her and she'd fall back asleep within 5 minutes. That approach is just not working this time around--she seems to escalate the longer she is left alone. After 30+ min, and no one sleeping, I tried to comfort her but this little girl just wouldn't be comforted - if I leave her in the crib and sing to her she cries, If I pick her up she thrashes around, if I let her down on the ground, she screams. I finally relented to giving her a bottle and some Tylenol - a surefire way to get this one to sleep. She downed the bottle, but as soon as she was done (right after I got all cozy in bed) she started right back up again. She had no fever, her room was plenty warm, and her bum freshly changed. I had the thought of Will giving her a blessing, so I brought her in our room. She usually loves being on our bed, but she was still inconsolable. I held her close and hummed a song and she finally calmed down a bit, but every time he placed his hands on her head she started thrashing around again. Unfortunately a blessing just didn't happen, I told him to go back to sleep and I took her in her room to try and rock her. She wouldn't have it. Finally I just laid her down in her crib and started singing an Elmo song she loves. This caught her attention, and eventually after an hour of tickling and singing lullabies she had calmed down enough to fall asleep. After I was sure she had fallen asleep, she started "talking". "Oh great," I thought, "she's wide awake now and wants to play." But upon closer examination, she was still fast asleep. She made a few humming sounds, rolled around, and then silent once more. I just sat beside her crib humming until I fell asleep too. What a crazy (awful) experience! I admit I was happy to finally be able to calm her down, but I hate how long she resisted comfort!
This morning it occurred to me, I wonder if she was having a
night terrror? I did a little
research online this morning, and she was showing a lot of the symptoms - seeming to be wide awake but clearly disoriented and confused and would not be comforted.
From BabyCenter: Trying to soothe your child will only extend and intensify the sleep terror — even saying his name can make him more upset. Likewise, don't try to vigorously awaken him. He may think you are attacking him. Instead, just let the night terror run its course, and stand nearby to make sure your toddler doesn't hurt himself."
Really? That's all I can do? Have you guys heard of this or had any experience with something like this?
I know that my sister-in-law Brittany dealt with night terrors with both of her kids. I asked her about it and here is what she had to say:
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't just stand and watch her! I held her, talked or sung to her and rocked her all the time. I did take her to the Doctor for it. Night terrors SUCK! Hailee's were terrible, she would scream at the top of her lungs. Her Dr. said there are some medications that might help but I hated that idea. I didn't want my kid on meds that young, and he also said that sometimes they can make the night terrors worse!
What I learned from Hailee's (mario has them now too) is that she was more likely to have night terrors if she didn't have a nap that day or if there was a disruption in her schedule, ie she was going to bed a different time or place. When she was in the throws of a night terror and freaking out I would usually do whatever I could think of to calm her down. My Dr. never said not to touch or talk to her. So I would pick her up and take her to a different part of the house, usually the living room and rock her and try to get her to go back to sleep. Most of the time she would scream for approx 10-20 min. I don't really have much advice other than stick to a schedule and do what you can to soothe her.
If you think about what is happening to them and what they are experiencing it is terrifying!!! Can you imagine thinking your dreams were reality?? I always held Hailee when she was having them, I talked to her and reassured her and cuddled her and loved her. It seemed to calm her down faster than if I did nothing. But she always seemed to recognize me during a night terror, so that might make a difference. I am sure there are different levels? Hailee has grown out of them now, she does not have the night terrors anymore, but she does sleep walk almost nightly! I hope she figures something out to help her. I know how hard it can be.
I guess my best advice would be to try everything! When hailee was having a night terror and I wouldn't touch her or I was too tired to go to her it lasted a lot longer. She would quiet down a lot faster when I held her and talked softly to her or rocked her. A few times I lost my patience and I would yell at her or I would put her in her room by herself, but that was when I didn't understand what was happening. Anyway, it was much worse during those times I didn't know or realize what was going on. So just be patient and loving. Hold her and cuddle her and rock her and try everything! Get her a drink of water or try something more stimulating to wake her up, but she'll have to watch her closely if she does this. The best bet is to either fully wake them up or get them to go back to a deep sleep. What ever works! I can totally sympathize! Hope she grows out of it soon!
I'm really sorry about your night last night, Lizzy! It must have been hard on Olivia, too. I'm not sure how helpful Brittany's advice was, but I hope it gave you some direction. :) You may consider going to a pediatrician and asking them about it, but you may get the same answers there as WebMD. I wish I were more help! I will pray for you and Olivia tonight! Love you!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Sar, Willie gave her a blessing before she went to bed, and she had a good 2+ hour nap today, so lets hope she does better tonight! It was good to hear Brittany's experience, tell her thank you for me.
ReplyDeleteWow, scary!! Caden wakes up almost every night screaming about 10:30 or 11:00 pm. We put his binky back in and his eyes immediately close, like he was asleep the whole time.
ReplyDeleteBut Livvy's experience sounds a lot like PTSD, post traumatic stress syndrome. I know it's NOT but go with me on this for a second. Sometimes kids who have been traumatized see something that triggers their trauma they literally re-experience their trauma in their head. It's like a nightmare while they are awake and they just freak out. They think they are in that scary place and have to be coaxed, VERY gently, back to the present. What you're supposed to do in those instances is to talk softly and draw their attention to something solid in the present. Like help them feel the carpet or a favorite toy. Using touch to bring them back to the familiar and to security is a big thing. Because their brain may be convincing them they are somewhere else (nightmares) you have to help their brain accept reality by presenting it with indisputable facts. Sounds are not as concrete as touch. I know Livvy is too young to reason with, but we were supposed to talk about the touch, "Do you feel the ground? Is it kind of scratchy? Do you feel the wall? Feel how it's smooth?" Otherwise, slow gentle movements and soft tones is all we were instructed to do when kids would have these "flashbacks". Anyways, at least it's something to try??? Love you guys and I hope it was just a one time thing!!!
How do I get so behind?!
ReplyDeleteOh man, Lizzy. Shelby has certainly had bad dreams, but never an actual night terror that was difficult to bring her out of. I'm sure that is so hard as a mom to watch her experience it. These are all great insights--I wonder if schedule really does have something to do with it. And Em, that touch technique is super interesting. But just standing by and watching them....that just doesn't fly for me either. I hope last night was a better night!
Thanks Ladies, well last night was much better - not a peep until 7am. We'll continue to make sure she gets a good nap and goes to bed early with a good bedtime routine. Her schedule has been pretty regular all week, with nothing unusual...I really have no idea what may have triggered it. Em, I like your comment about touch can help bring them back to reality - I'm going to try that if there is a next time! Thanks for all your comments and advice!
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