Night terrors in young toddlers?

[bananapancakes]

The last three nights in a row L has woken up screaming. He's never been a good sleeper but this is different. There's no "build up" to his cries. He goes from 0-60 instantly. It's also happening earlier in the evening (between 9:30-11:30) when his usual MOTN wake up time is around 2-4. He can't be comforted either. He is stiff as a board and flailing when I try to hold/rock him and he's not interested in nursing either. He just screams these heart breaking cries for 10-15 minutes. Yesterday after trying everything I could think of, I brought him to the kitchen to get a drink of water and it was like the light from the fridge snapped him out of it. He downed an entire sippy cup of water and then collapsed in my arms, just spent the poor little guy. I've been giving him Advil before bed and it's earlyish in the night so I don't think it's teeth. Any ideas?

[teatimefor2]

Just that, sleep terrors. DS1 has been occasionally. It took a while for me to realise them and his doctor confirmed it. He would start screaming and thrashing. Typically his eyes were closed, and he won't notice if I was in the room or not. Nothing I did helped and waking him was very difficult.

Doctor told us to let him work through it, not to wake him, just make sure he couldn't hurt himself.

It's harder on you then him. DS1 was never aware, he would wake up later fine, but it broke my heart.

[Deleted]

Both my kids did this. I had to carry them around the house flip on lights and snuggle for a bit.

I used to turn the TV on for DS as well. It seemed to reset him. DD always needed a snack and a sippy refill. she had like a 2 week long streak of Cheerios at 2am for awhile.

[Deleted]

DD has them too. As did H when he was a kid. My MIL used to have to hold H in a cold shower to wake him up. It is especially worse when she's overtired.

[carolinagirl831]

Yes, dd had these. She would be screaming with eyes closed and the usual comforting did nothing. Her pediatrician said just let her work through them and do nothing. As heartbreaking as it is, this tactic worked better. When we tried to wake her it just resulted in more hysterics

[Deleted]

Rhys (11m) gets them if he doesn't get good naps in

I heard you aren't supposed to wake them so I just hold him and talk in a soothing voice, try to comfort him (not that it helps at all but I feel like I'm doing something) until it's over

Hugs!
Are they happening at the same time each night?
If so you can try waking him before that time and then getting him back to sleep, that should help reset if they are happening every night or you don't know another reason (Like Rhys only gets them when overtired)

[Deleted]

L did it 3-4 times. Thrashing and inconsolable.
The first night we panicked and tried to calm her down. But by the second night we realized nothing was going to help so we just waited her out.
It's scary and annoying. But hopefully just a few times