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Toddler Terrors
By Pamela White
(HarperCollins). But many mothers report children of much younger ages experiencing this temporary phase, so it's better to be informed early on. 
A child in the midst of night terrors is not awake, but is stuck temporarily between two stages of REM sleep. "It's physiological. There's nothing psychological to it," says Dr. Mindell. And while "no one knows the cause," there are certain triggers that parents can avoid. Number one is sleep deprivation. In addition, fevers and some medication such as chloral hydrate, which is sometimes given for sleep problems, can cause night terrors.
Chris, mother of Ryan, shares a bit of practical parenting: "My son has had night terrors since he was 6 months old. They were so bad that he would scream nonstop for half an hour. He was never awake, and I could never find anything wrong with him. I tried changing his diet, his bedtime, his formula, the type of sheets on his bed, his position when I would lay him down, but nothing worked. Finally, my pediatrician suggested that I stir him two hours after he goes to sleep. Not enough to wake him up all the way, just enough so that he moves a little. I started this when he was one year old. He is now 21 months old, and hasn't had a night terror since [I started waking him.]"
It is extremely important to stay by the child's side to keep him covered and safe while he is struggling and screaming. Don't fear psychological damage; your toddler is not dreaming, nor will he have any memory of the event. Don't wake your child or talk about the night terrors to him the next day.
As for "just" nightmares, there are ways to support a child during her waking hours and to create a pre-bedtime routine that may keep the bad dreams at bay.
During the day, celebrate your toddler's growing independence by cheering him on and applauding his forays into the gr