Another First for the Little One
As the girls get older, the “first” are getting fewer and farther between. They’ve outgrown most of the typical firsts, of course there are still plenty to come but it’s been a while since we’ve had one.
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The Little One delivered last night and I’m not sure it’s a good thing. I need to do some reading (or one of you fabulous readers can enlighten me) as to what age night terrors can begin. I don’t know what happened in her room last night, I just know that at 11:15 p.m. I was awakened to blood-curdling screams and gasps from the Little One.
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She often fusses at night, but usually she just works it out. Gracie Lou used to jump up at ever noise the Little One made, but even she is used to an occasional outburst. But last night, the dog got out the door before I did. I think she was afraid too.
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When I got in her room, she was sitting up in her bed screaming, “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.” It was not a whiney scream. It was a petrified scream. Something spooked her. Scratch that, something freaked her the heck out.
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I scooped her up and held her tight. She latched onto my body like there was no tomorrow. I am quite surprised that I don’t have a bruise on the back of my arm where she was clutching me.
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As we rocked and I tried to soothe her, she trembled and cried and gasped for air. After about 6 minutes she finally started to calm down. Here eyes were open, but they were a bit glassed over, so I don’t know if she finally woke up all the way to know I was there or what was going on.
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I just know that it scared the bejeezus out of me.
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I tried to talk to her and ask her what happened. All she could tell me was the she bit her tongue. She has certainly bit her tongue before and it didn’t elicit that type of response. So I don’t know what it was. I just hope it doesn’t happen again, for her sake and mine.
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Joyce,
I’ve heard that with night terrors they have no idea what is going on and in the morning don’t remember it. So supposedly, the best thing to do is NOT wake them up, but to soothe them quietly while they are having their fit. They supposedly calm down and sleep quietly the rest of the night, not remembering a thing the next day. But if you wake them up, they are even more terrified because they don’t understand what is going on. And then bed time becomes anxiety provoking.
Now I say supposedly because this is what I’ve read, but I’ve never actually experienced an episode. Good luck!
hey,
night terrors scarier for mom than child I think. Katie had them when she was about three. At the time one of the Peds that I talked to said the child is not fully awake and the first step is to get them awake, Katie used to run away from me and crawl and run around the house screaming. Until I could get her awake I could not deal with her. The Dr. suggested a cold wet wash cloth on the face to wake her up. They only lasted for a few months and gradually just disappeared. Maybe having Jason gone has upset her, as she probably doesn’t fully understand where he went or why. Katie doesn’t even remember ever having them.
Remember mom as with most childhood problems “this to will pass”. Good luck and I hope there won’t be anymore scarie nights.
How upsetting for her and you! I hope this is a rare occurrence.