Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums General Discussion Night Terrors

Do any of your children suffer from night terrors? My 8 y/o just started having them a couple of months ago. They are HORRIBLE. He screams and moans and sleep walks.

He will get up and stand on the landing up stairs and just scream. He's very loud in the middle of the night. It happens 4 to 6 times every night. In the morning he doesn't remember a thing.

I'm so tired, I am having a tough time getting through the day. I also worry he's not getting enough restful sleep. He is becoming very emotional.

Any tips on how to help him, please.

Terri

That sounds so hard. I wish I had advice. I would call your paediatrician about this.

We have had the same problem for about two years. Our pediatrician said "you can put him on meds but the side effects will likely be worse than the terrors."

Some things that worked for us and have helped bring it down to maybe once a week at most-

High protein snack right before bed
A cool room with a fan blowing directly on him
Loose fitting PJs and no tight blankets or sheets
Giving him a warm relaxing bath right before bed with no talk about school or anything stressful.
Waking him up 2 hours after he goes to bed, just enough to stir. This seems to disrupt the sleep cycle enough.

Thank you for the replies. I did call his Dr. He told be to give him cookies and milk before bed. I will try the protein before bed. We try to wake him a little before the first terror occurs. He's impossible to stir, it's like trying to wake the dead, he's a limp noodle. He has a fan blowing on him all night. We tried soft music.

I have noticed there seems to be a link to the heat. If he starts to sweat, you can bet the terror will start shortly after.

Do you know what causes night terrors. The Dr said it's hereditary. Sometimes I find myself standing in the middle of my bedroom. Or I'll wake up just as I'm getting out of bed. Weird!

DD5 Can't fall asleep at night....help!?!

Check out the above post. I'm not sure this is just what you need but there might be something there to try.

I wonder if you child recalls what happened when he wakes in the morning. It might help him to talk to you about this.

It's my understanding that if the child remembers what happened in the morning, then it is by definition, not a night terror.

My son is also very hard to stir. I turn on the lights and take off the covers. If I still can't wake him, I will put a cold washcloth on his forehead. It sounds cruel but it's not as cruel as the 30 min terror that comes an hour later if I don't.

I have heard that sleepwalking and other sleep issues are hereditary but not night terrors. They seem to occur in early childhood and be triggered by a disruption in schedule or stress. At least that's what everything I've found says.