Anybody else's kid do this?

[TheOtherVillainess]

Is it possible at 6 mos old to have 'nightmares' or 'night terrors' (what's the diff anyway? I've heard both used to describe disturbed nighttime sleep in children)?

The last few days or so DS will start fussing in the middle of the night. He's not hungry and not dirty usually. I'll try to feed/change him and put him back to bed. But a little while later (20-30 min or so)he'll start fussing in his sleep. I'll go in to check on him and see if he needs to be changed AGAIN (we go through a LOT of diapers in this house..he's a champion peer! )and if that's not it..I'll try to calm him and get him to go back to sleep.

But he's still asleep as far as I can tell! Just fussing and fussing in his sleep like he's having a nightmare.

Is this normal?

TOV

 

[CEDmom]

DD had night terrors when she was a baby. What triggered it was overstimulation and/or a significant change in her routine. The way I could tell it was a night terror rather than a bad dream was that she wouldn't let DH or me hold her and try and soothe her when she was having a night terror (it actually made her more upset) but would allow it with regular fussiness. Her cry was also different during a night terror - very repetitive with no real change in pitch. We tried a lot of different thing when she had these episodes but what worked best for us was to lay down on the floor of her room with her and be close enough so she knew we were there but not too close. We'd put some soft music on and just talk very softly to her. We'd say things like "Mommy and/or Daddy is here and you're safe".

What you're describing probably is what we'd consider a nightmare. He's got a lot of things to absorb in his brain and sometimes it works overtime. He could also be getting a tooth or having a growth spurt with could cause some pain. If you're able to comfort him in some way that's all that matters. Hang in there.

BTW, he's so cute

 

[gr8tpanther]

My DD11 has had night terrors her whole life. The Dr never had a reason for them, and couldn't offer any help during them. She gets violent during these episodes though and I can be standing right in front of her, her eyes wide open and her screaming for MOMMY. They aren't as bad as they used to be or as frequent, but they were really bad when she was smaller.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Yes, we had them with Matt. He was never a great sleeper as a baby or toddler. Even know he comes in in the middle of the night to chit chat or give a kiss or whatever. Sometimes its sweet other times GRRR

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

I didn't think this kind of thing could be triggered by teething. But maybe you are right. He IS teething..very drooly when he's awake. And probably going through a growth spurt too, with my luck. He's gained 2 lbs in 2 mos (was 13 lbs 8.5 oz at his 4 mos check up, 15 lbs 9oz at his 6 mos check up last Fri).

TOV

 

[Freyja]

DD started having them around 1 year old. She seems to have almost outgrown them by now and she´ll soon be 8. Now she only has them if she is EXTREMELY tired.

 

[stacilee]

our experience with night terrors was extreme. 2 of our 4 kids had them.
Interestingly both of them were boys.
With the first child it really freaked us out because we didn't understand what was going on. It started with both of them at about 6-8 mos. By this time both of them could stand up in the crib.
Later both of these kids became sleep-walkers but both "grew out of it" by about age 10.
It was more severe with the second son than the first, but by then we at least knew what was happening and learned to take it in stride.

I agree with the above poster who stated that with her child it seemed to happen most ofter after a day of more than usual stimulation. It seemed with us that the more tired WE were after a special outing or event- the worse the night terrors were that night. We could could have banked on it.

Good Luck to you.
stacilee

 

[remyandhollandsmommy]

Holly is 10 mos and she gets night terrors too. I don't mean fussiness, I mean out and out screaming hystarically in the middle of the night! Talk about giving someone heart failure! I usually pick her up out of her crib, rock her and talk to her. She usually wakes up so I can soothe her a little more then I put her back to sleep and turn on her "night-night" music (it's the soothing sounds monitor). She has a peaceful sleep after that. I have noticed when we are busy that day is normally when they appear. Remy had night terrors too, but for a whole different set of reasons.

 

[KimR]

My middle DD did this, and if I'm understanding you correctly, I don't think it's night terrors. My DD would fuss and cry a bit in her sleep and if I just let her be, she'd usually settle down on her own in a few minutes. The cry was definitely different than her cry when she was hungry or just wanting to be held...it was more of a fussy, cranky kind of cry. She did grow out of it and I do remember reading something about this - something to do with the baby half waking up and just trying to learn to settle back down and go back to sleep. Honestly, though, it didn't seem as though she was awake at all. She was the only one of my three who did this and it didn't last very long at all.

 

[anut4disney]

My grandson has had night terrors and they can be really scary. The first few times it happened I didn't realize what they were. They are usually spaced far apart so didn't click in until the 3rd one.

First couple of times I would take him out of the crib and hold him and try to calm him. He would arch his back and fight being held. I finally learned to just leave him in the bed, tuck in the covers and run my hand up and down his back or tummy. I would also kind of hum and this seemed to calm him down much better than anything else. It was so strange to see his eyes open and he would still be asleep. He is 5 now and it has been awhile since he had one so I am hoping that he has finally outgrown them.

It's funny he is a twin and his sister has never had one.

 

[mbb]

Originally posted by CEDmom
....... He could also be getting a tooth or having a growth spurt with could cause some pain. If you're able to comfort him in some way that's all that matters. Hang in there.

BTW, he's so cute

ITA

Or an ear infection...Our kids were like that when they had excess fluid in their ears, which they can have from teething...and sometimes the fluid can lead to an infection.

They would be fine sleeping somewhat upright, ie, in mommy's arms, but lay them down and 10minutes later, they would be restless and fussing again.

Good luck, and remeber, this too shall pass

 

[snarfer1]

Here is a good 'non-jargon' site. There is a whole spectrum of sleep disorders, and it is hard to be certain which one, your baby falls into. (It could even be more than one!)

If you want a label (or to reassure yourselves), time the onset after sleep. That will help to differentiate between NT and Nightmares (as dear little baby can't speak yet!)

http://www.nightterrors.org/index.html

A great 'Medical' link is noted below. Most of the main-stream journals and text books are listed. You may have to go to the library to copy the article, but the links list the journals involved.

http://cchs-dl.slis.ua.edu/clinical...rs/parasomnia/sleep-arousal/sleep-terrors.htm

Finally, my guess is this is night terrors. I believe they are worse for the parents, than the child, 'cause you can't do anything for your wee little one!

Best of Luck!

-TonyX