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I Don't Want to Go to Bed!
5 Common Sleep Problems in Toddlers By Melissa Granberry
My 2-year-old son recently introduced me to night terrors. His first day of preschool was surprisingly uneventful, until approximately 11 o'clock that night. He screamed from his crib, kicking and swatting at invisible objects. As I ran to comfort him, he became more agitated. "Go away!" he yelled at me. Soon he calmed down and went back to sleep, only to repeat the episode for the next five nights.
"Though night terrors seem frightening, the child will have no recollection of the dream," says Dr. McCoy.
Can night terrors be prevented? Not entirely, but the following suggestions can help:
- Implement a calm, relaxing bedtime routine.
- Make sure your child does not get over-stimulated during the day.
- Wake your child 30 minutes before the night terror usually occurs.
"Night terrors are a common stage that toddlers go through and grow out of," says Dr. Kanengiser. Take comfort that your child will not remember the terrifying details of the ream, even though you may have a difficult time forgetting the incident.