What are those? I know, that's probably what some of you are thinking, right? Night terrors happen in deep, non-dreaming sleep. Eyes can be open, they can be talking, they can actually get up and walk around.
What does Grayson do, you ask? It starts with whimpering. He whimpers, kind of hiccups, in high pitched squeaks. This is how I know it's starting. I hear it over the baby monitor. I check on him. He's asleep. After about 15-20 minutes, he either starts screaming or crying extremely loud for about 10 minutes. His eyes have only been open twice during these events. During his first one (or maybe the second one) I tried to rub his back to soothe him, and it made him cry louder. Now I just sit next to the bed quietly and wait. It's heartbreaking. All I want to do is pick him up and comfort him, but everything I've read says to not fully wake him while he's in the episode. So, I sit until the whimpers and screaming stop and he's peacefully quiet again.
I didn't even know that he could be having night terrors at this age. I thought they started around Claire's age. I guess I was wrong. I'm also exhausted. He had them twice last week, but almost every night this week I've been up waiting through them, and then he's up at about 5 to nurse and then asleep again until 7. Once his Night Terror is over, I have a terrible time getting back to sleep because I'm worrying. Is he OK? Should I go back in and check on him? Is he too hot? Is he too cold? Is that why it's happening? How do I make them stop? Is he whimpering again?
I'm hoping he grows out of these, and fast. I don't know if I can sit and listen to him cry for much longer.
3 comments:
Oh, your poor family! My cousin went through these when he was about 4 or 5. His parents didn't even know what was going on for the first couple of weeks. It went on for months. He was always wide eyed and seemed awake. He knew he was having nightmares too because he would mention his scary sleep. He didn;'t want to go to bed. How heartbreaking for all involved. Sending hugs your way. I have no answers, but just sympathy. I hope it gets better soon.
Chelle
You know my heart goes out to you Chantal. We're just today back from sleep school ( which i'll blog about later ) so i can appreciate how heartbreaking it is to have to listen to the crying and screaming and knowing you just have to leave them be...you'll get through it. Til then, i'm sending you all the good sleep vibes i can!
How awful. I'm so sorry that he is going through this (and that you are going through this). I wish I knew an answer to what to do.
I'll be praying for you all!
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