Night Terrors
I can still remember my nephew Jon Jon, when he was about 3 or 4, having a night terror. He woke up screaming, thrashing his arms and legs around, then jumping up and down on his bed... screaming the entire time with his eyes wide open. It was just as scary as it sounds, he looked possessed! By the time I saw the night terror in action, my nephew had been having them for almost a year. My sister knew exactly what to do - to not try and wake him and just make sure he doesn't hurt himself. Eventually she even learned that letting their Chihuahua, Baby, get in bed with Jon would help to calm him down. But even then, Jon Jon continued to have night terrors for a total of 5 years before they went away completely.
So, imagine my horror when Tony was out of town last week and Miles woke up screaming and thrashing around. He screamed and cried for almost 2 hours and I couldn't do anything to help. I even woke up Tony because I was starting to get pretty freaked out.
Then, this week we've had the kids for Spring Break and twice Miles has woken up screaming, rolling around in bed like he's possessed. Any time I tried to comfort him he would claw at my face. Finally it clicked - these are the dreaded Night Terrors.
When my nephew was having them a psychologist told my sister that because of his nature and personality, Jon would deal with things during the day by acting out in his sleep. Poor sweet Jon Jon was always a sensitive boy.
From what I've read about Night Terrors, most websites agree that it's caused by being over-tired. Which was completely true the nights he had them. When Nick and Izzy are over it's impossible to get Miles to go to sleep at a reasonable time. So instead of fighting him I just let him get exhausted. Well, not any more. Watching Miles thrash and roll around in bed without being able to comfort him was awful. We will definitely be working on a schedule and sticking to it, hopefully that helps. And least I know he's fine and it's just something we have to work through.
Mostly I'm just glad that he sleeps with us so I can know what's going on when he's having one.
I'm talking about co-sleeping and how it all got started over at Dallas Moms Blog today. Most readers already know we co-sleep with Miles. But that's a few old cute pictures of Miles to reward you for clicking over!
So, imagine my horror when Tony was out of town last week and Miles woke up screaming and thrashing around. He screamed and cried for almost 2 hours and I couldn't do anything to help. I even woke up Tony because I was starting to get pretty freaked out.
Then, this week we've had the kids for Spring Break and twice Miles has woken up screaming, rolling around in bed like he's possessed. Any time I tried to comfort him he would claw at my face. Finally it clicked - these are the dreaded Night Terrors.
When my nephew was having them a psychologist told my sister that because of his nature and personality, Jon would deal with things during the day by acting out in his sleep. Poor sweet Jon Jon was always a sensitive boy.
From what I've read about Night Terrors, most websites agree that it's caused by being over-tired. Which was completely true the nights he had them. When Nick and Izzy are over it's impossible to get Miles to go to sleep at a reasonable time. So instead of fighting him I just let him get exhausted. Well, not any more. Watching Miles thrash and roll around in bed without being able to comfort him was awful. We will definitely be working on a schedule and sticking to it, hopefully that helps. And least I know he's fine and it's just something we have to work through.
Mostly I'm just glad that he sleeps with us so I can know what's going on when he's having one.
I'm talking about co-sleeping and how it all got started over at Dallas Moms Blog today. Most readers already know we co-sleep with Miles. But that's a few old cute pictures of Miles to reward you for clicking over!
So sorry about those night terrors! Brad's phase with them didn't last very long hopefully miles' won't either.
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