BR: LOs with nightmares?

MrsNJSwimmer

Can babies have nightmares?  that's kind of what this seems like to me.

Sometimes he will start crying in his sleep, but not stop until we wake him up - it's way more than fussing, but not a full out screaming bloody murder scream.  Last night he only slept for 15 minutes at a time and continued to do this - for about 2 hours.  Finally he slept on my chest, like he did when he was first born, and slept like that for 5 hrs. 

Are there any other explanations for this kind of crying?  He wasn't hot or cold, his diaper was just changed, etc.

KShiz

I wondered the same thing, E woke up the other night crying like she was scared, the look on her face nearly killed me.

lelekay

I'm certainly no expert, but from what I just read, even babies in utero can dream once they have regular REM cycles (around 28 weeks).  I read something about studies being done about the brain function of babies during this type of sleep, and it being the same as adults in the same cycle of sleep.   My guess is if they can dream they would also be able to have bad ones?  It really makes you wonder.....what are they dreaming about?

vanceandlori

Interesting! Sometimes Brooke fusses in her sleep too and right when I'm about to go get her or whatever, I realize she's deep sleeping and she'll settle down on her own.

It DOES make you wonder what they are dreaming out... what type of bad dreams could they have so young? She was afraid of her ball popper (until she realized how much fun it could be), so I'd joke to Vance that she's dreaming about her ball popper getting her.

mrspresley

lelekay:

It really makes you wonder.....what are they dreaming about?

i have no idea about this, but i know that occasionally A will wake up, scream for a second, then go back to sleep.... we have always joked that she is dreaming that there is no more milk

Married2MrWright

Could be night terrors...I know Libby will do this too and it's always gas.  Usually happens when she nurses down without burping...happened this afternoon actually.  Wakes up just screaming!  Her belly was rock hard so we knew it was gas.  Finally a bunch of burping and farting and a little ColicCalm settled her down.  It's pitiful to hear though.

MauiMary

Sounds to me like it could be a night terror.  They do get them, and I remember from 5-10 months-ish Ben did have them.  I would go in and reassure him.  That seemed to help calm him down.  I think they become more aware of their surroundings too. 

MrsNJSwimmer

When I called the dr, they seemed to think it could be more symptoms of reflux. 

Thank goodness he slept like a champ last night - 11:15-7am, and then 7:30-10:15.