What is night terror in infants and who are commonly affected?
You rushed to your child's bedroom because you heard a frightening shriek. His eyes glassy, heart racing, breathing is rapid, screaming and confused and he may also be drenched in sweat. He may appear to be awake, yet he won't respond to your attempts to comfort him. After the screams subside, he is calm and has no memory of this episode and, yes, no dream or nightmare to tell you about the morning after.
He will not be able to talk and express feelings for some time and/or to explain the trauma he has just experienced. Such is a classic example of night terrors, infants are most likely to be affected between ages 18 months and 6 years old, which are not not to be confused with nightmares.
How can I prevent night terrors from happening to my baby?
There are several ways to prevent night terrors. Make sure that your baby gets adequate sleep at naptime and at night. Also, make sure to have a noise free and silent place for your baby to sleep and turn off dark lights which may irritate him. Establish a consistent sleep schedule for him and fix a daily routine of waking up, sleeping and eating, and actually follow it.
You can also try giving a chamomile tisane sip before sleeping and have a tissue sprinkled with orange oils and chamomile under your child's pillow to help him sleep better. Cuddling is also helpful and don't forget to visit the doctor occasionally for proper medical care and make sure to give only medications which are properly prescribed.
What are the cures for night terrors?
Relaxation techniques and medications are the best treatments for night terrors. Hypnotherapy is also being used, as well as antidepressants like imipramine or a drug called chlordiazepoxide, which may be prescribed for relief of tensions and nervous feeling.
It is a big consolation to know that night terror does not lead to other sleep disturbances and that providing your child with a lot of love and affection is very important while dealing with such health related issues.
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