Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

night terror

hi, my 6 year old girl is having night terrors, not once but 6 to 7 times for the night she wakes up sreaming and crying, her father and I will try to hold her and comfort her, but  she will not let us, she don't see us as mummy and daddy she see us as monsters and thinks  we attacking her. its been happening six weeks 6 to 7 times  every night. something like this used to happen to her when she was a year old   but it never been this bad, its become worse in six weeks i'm going crazy at nights don't know what to do or how can I help her, it last for about 5 munites, then she snaps out of it and all she wants is to go back to sleep. she has no memories of what happens,please help me with some answers,is there any medication that can help her sleep throught the night.I also have a 4 year old boy who sleep throught the night and is prefectly fine.  
3 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
My son who is now 5 has them,, Although the last oh 3-5 months they have almost completely stopped.. But he has had them for years and for HOURS at a time.. He just wakes up screaming this HORRIBLE scream and if we approach him to try to hold him or help he will back up or scream louder... He also has no memory of what has happened when he wakes.. My husband and I took him  the doctor and they said limit sugar,caffeine and tv... Because all though they just may watch cartoons they see things like Shark Tale as a Shark that want's to eat them.. So when they sleep at night it manifest in their dreams.. Also the doctor told us not to wake him just keep him safe so he doenst hurt himself.. He has gotten out of the bad and stood on his toes like a ballerina very very scary... doctors say they can last for 5 minutes to several hours and his are almost always the several hours...and they should stop by age 8 they say.. I am glad my son's have almost all the way stopped at 5.. But it is very draining and heartbreaking.

    They doctors also said it has something to do with the REM  state of sleep and if you wake them before that it will help.. But that is also very draining.. We had to set our alarm and every 2 hours wake him not just roll him over but make him sit up talk to us, get a drink of water and use the rest room then he was free to go back to sleep.. GRRRRR.... He would be mad when we woke him and I was exhausted by morning...  I don't know if there is any real help for it other then the no sugar rule but just try to keep the kid safe and pray that this to shall pass..  I also have an 11 year old daughter who slept through the night and a 3 year old boy who sleeps through the night.. You might try contacting the doctor and see if there is any meds that can help.. We never gave our son anything and happy to report after almost 4 and a half years he very rarely has them anymore BUT it was a very long 4 and a half years...Be strong and hang in there...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My daughter had those when she was two...and my other daughter also had them...we discovered, and proved it with my second daughter, that icecream or anything sweet before bed and they would have them.  Hope that helps.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Test her for STREP.  The STREP test that the Doctor brings back into the office within a few minutes can be negative even if your child has it, so get the extensive test where they give you a TITER count (it's sent out to a lab.)  When they call a few days later and if it come's back positive, get her on antibiotics ASAP.  

(I am not a doctor... just a suggestion)
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Child Behavior Community

Top Children's Health Answerers
189897 tn?1441126518
San Pedro, CA
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Is a gluten-free diet right for you?
We answer your top questions about the flu vaccine.
Learn which over-the-counter medicines are safe for you and your baby
Yummy eats that will keep your child healthy and happy
Healing home remedies for common ailments