NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

Last night DS (3.5) woke up screaming and couldn't be consoled. It has happened before, but not like this. He wanted to go outside and play, (it was 3am). He kept repeating himself over and over...he would acknowledge when I spoke, or scream harder if I said no, so he did hear me, but he wasn't really listening.

I called my ped, who is getting back to me, but was hoping someone had some experience.

Thank you.

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

I'd love to hear some responses in regard to this too, because I occasionally have the same experience with my 3 year old DS.

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

I think that is a nightmare - since he can talk and knows who you are.

DD gets night terrors and she does not recognize me at all and even pushes me away. She cries and screams inconsolably for up to 20 minutes or so..we have to turn on all the lights in her room and even then she doesn't calm down. They sort of need to play their course.

NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

DS has been doing this as well. He will wake up suddenly out of no where and be screaming, kicking and punching. One night he made DH bring him downstairs to get a lego toy then passed out again as soon as he head hit the pillow. Another time, he was screaming for us to take the clothes out of his laundry basket. He also asks to go outside or downstairs to play. It lasts 5 minutes or so and then he's out like a light again... i'm guessing it's just the age since I've heard of other 3 year olds doing it. I notice it more if he fights bedtime. If he goes to sleep calmly and quietly he sleeps soundly

NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

double post

Message edited 10/23/2013 8:57:52 PM.

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

My son suffered from SEVERE night terrors for weeks back in the spring.. He was out of control screaming and thrashing in bed some nights. Other nights he would sit up, eyes open, and yell no. He was never aware I was in the room and nothing consoled him. I finally did some research and found that he was having a bad reaction to food dye. Red is the big culprit. He was getting m&ms and red twizzlers for treats for speech therapy and those were the nights he was having issues.. I stopped them and it took a few days for his system to detox and then not a peep out of him.. To humor myself, I tried him with some twizzlers a couple of weeks later and the same thing!
I put a gate at the end of the hallway so he couldn't roam if he got up during one.. But I always heard him and went into his room to watch him. It was a rough few weeks.. It happens sometimes with yellow dye now but not as bad... My cousins also suffered from them but they don't know why. Both outgrew them by 6-7 years old..

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

Re: NIght Terrors Vs. Nightmare or tantrum?

There is also a hereditary component to them. My mom had them, I had them, DD has them, my nephews had them...all of us out grew them by age 5 i think and i hope will be the same for DD.