nightmares or what?

Hello! I am a 20 year-old soon-to-be adoptive mother of a 2 year old boy. I am going throught the adoption process to get him in August. What i want to know is, what can I give my baby to help him get to sleep and sleep through the night? He wakes up violently every night screaming. Is this normal? His mom is my God-sister and she is on drugs and not doing a good job of raising him. As a matter of fact, he was born with drugs in his system. Could this be the reason for him fighting in his sleep? Please help me doctor. Ive asked my pediatrician and she says its just a phase, but it cant be . How can I get him to sleep and keep him sleep through the night? Thanks!

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

No, there is no indication that any problem his mom had with drugs would be contributing to his sleep situation now. To some extent, night terrors of the sort you describe are a normal part of the development of a stable sleep pattern during the early years. Such episodes are not necessarily the sign of a problem. When the episodes occur, do not wake him up, but rather quietly, gently reassure him and guide him back to sleep (remember, he will not really wake up during these episodes - he is only partially awake). Be sure you have a regular bedtime routine, and that you stick with it. He should be getting about 11 hours or so of sleep each night. Read him a story as he is in his crib, then have him fall asleep on his own, without such things as a bottle, pacifier, etc. You don't want these things to be regarded by him as a regular part of falling asleep