Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

Last night about an hour or so after going to sleep, DD woke up SCREAMING like I have never heard before.
It was a panicked kind of scream- like a scream of fear or pain. And it was non stop. It was horrifying.

I went in after a few minutes of trying to let her calm down herself and she was BESIDE herself- wouldn't take the pacifer, wouldn't lay back down, so I picked her up.
She didn't even want me holding her- she was writhing to get out of my arms, but when I put her down she screamed worse. I tried a bottle, tried rocking her , tried to get her to take the paci, nothing calmed her down.
She seemeed panicked and out of sorts. Like she wasn't even focusing- just freaking out and NOTHING calmed her down.
After a few minutes I put her back in the crib-because me holding her was doing no good- and I left the room.
She screamed for a minute or so more and then went back to sleep.
That was it for the rest of the night. She slept fine.

But I was so scared because I had never seen her like that- it was like nothing was calming her down and she was so out of sorts.

Question- can this be night terrors or nightmare? Can they even get them this young?

I thought maybe teething pain- but she settled down quickly with no motrin or anything and didn't wake again the rest of the night...

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

DD went thru this. The best thing you can do is just sit with her and make sure she doesn't hurt herself. I would try to console DD and it didn't help. They kind of have to just work it out themselves. I think DD's episodes would last about 20 minutes.

It sucks, but they don't remember it. It's harder on us than on them.

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

sounds like a night terro..this is when they are actually reazlizing that they dream and it scares them!!

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

I thought that was what it seemed like- but I didn't realize it could happen so young.

It just really freaked me out- I have never seen her act like that!

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

My DD had night terrors at that age. The ped said to not try and console her, pick her up, etc. because it can jolt them out of their sleep and they will be more upset and disoriented. He recommended just letting her work through it. Usually they would only last a few minutes and then she would stop and sleep soundly all night long. It was a phase though, she grew out of the terrors after a few months.

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

My sister's son had night terrors from about 12 months old. Her doctor told her most times the baby is still actually asleep and that is why it is so hard to console them. So sorry for the both of you, it's so sad to see them like that.

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

My DS is 11m and kind of had a "day terror" yesterday during his afternoon nap. My mom was watching him and said he woke up after 45 mins (usually naps almost 2 hrs) and was crying hysterically. He normally wakes up from his naps quietly and will play in the crib for a little while. She went right in and picked him up but said he cried for a few more minutes and seemed upset. I wondered if he had a bad dream or something! So strange. Hopefully it was a one-time thing!

For your DD too.

Re: Can 1 year olds have nightmares or night terrors?

My 9 month old did that one night. She wouldn't even look at me when I picked her up. She barely even opened her eyes. It totally freaked us out. It hasn't again and she is almost 11 months now (knock on wood).