We’ve been having a problem with Kyle waking during the night, wanting either water, Mama, to climb into our bed, or something else. Sometimes he is inconsolable, hardly awake even, as he screams and cries. I’ve found that by taking him out of his bed and holding him in my lap (he’s 42 pounds so this is not easy, but what are you gonna do?) I wake him up just enough to comprehend that whatever monster is chasing him is not real.
A few nights ago, Stewart was in Kyle’s room trying to go it alone but it wasn’t working. Kyle repeatedly asked for me. So I joined them and tried to calm the boy down. It didn’t make a difference, still Kyle cried and shook. Stewart started singing, and I chimed in. We sang, ever so softly, Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”
It’s a special song for us. We’ve been together 11 years, and that song was our karaoke song, our first dance at our wedding (remind me to post video of THAT one), and now it’s a lullaby. I almost cried as we sang our odd duet to our child, but it worked. He calmed down and went back to sleep.
Thanks, Johnny.
Sounds like night terrors, common in toddlers…
If you put up the video, please accompany that with a family picture in your JC shirts!
exactly. the “johnny cash” family – so Sue and i got you all shirts. and Kyle and Brady can play the guitar and harmonica. Please send photos.
Ahhh, that is sweet.
I agree – night terrors is a possibility – my oldest son had them – about 4 or 5 episodes when he was about 2 or 3. My daughter Rebecca had 1 at about age 3 – we were camping, and the sound of her cries certainly carried – good thing I was still nursing her – when it was over she looked at me, and said ‘goodnight mommy’ went to sleep, and that was the end of that! This too shall pass.
jan
Luke’s been having similar problems at night. I thought it was night terrors, too, so I googled it and found a helpful website.
http://www.drgreene.com/21_155.html
I think he’s been having what Dr. Greene calls “confusional arousal.” It can be a little scary. We decided to make sure Luke gets to bed earlier and try to get him to nap again every now and then. Today he took a 3 hour nap and still went to bed before 9 so I think maybe it’s possible. Hope Kyle’s nighttimes get better soon. It makes for not so great sleep for the parents, too.