Hi D. B., It sounds like your son is experiencing night tremors, a common occurrence among toddlers and preschoolers. Night tremors differ from nightmares because they usually take place in the early part of the night, typically one or two hours after your son falls asleep. A night tremor occurs when young children are partially aroused from a deep sleep. Your son may appear awake and scream for you, although his ‘mind’ remains in a partial sleep state so he will be difficult to console or reassure. You can try and reduce his tremors by ensuring he has a regular bedtime and consistent routine. Avoid anything overly stimulating just before bedtime. If his night tremors happen at the same time every night, it may help to completely wake him about 10 minutes before this time, letting him drift off to sleep again with you. Try this for 4 or 5 nights then stop the partial waking and see if the night tremors have stopped. Some parents find it helpful to have their child either sleeping with them or on a mattress on the floor, so that they can be in the same room. You should certainly make an appointment with your GP if night tremors are frequent or particularly disruptive – and given your chronic sleep deprivation I would say that you could tick both of these boxes! It is important to first rule out an underlying medical issue such as sleep apnoea or even a urinary tract infection. These can cause partial waking, which can lead to a night tremor. If tremors are ongoing or escalate in intensity further medical or psychological intervention may be required. When speaking with your doctor make sure you are clear about the negative impact this is having on your own sleep patterns, parenting can be particularly challenging when you are chronically sleep deprived.

Regards,
Dr Cathrine

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