Advice on DCB: injures himself during nap

[Snowmom]

I had a something happen today that scared the bejesus out of me and I'm wondering if anyone has encountered anything similar.

DCB (4) was napping when I hear him call out/cry on the monitor. I look briefly at the monitor and see him sitting up, flailing his hands all around. I went down to the bedroom and found he had (in a matter of mere seconds) scratched his entire face. Gauged really. All over, ear to ear, forehead to chin. He then lounged towards his sister (with me standing right there) and attempted to scratch her arm. I immediately grabbed him, brought him out into the other room, set him down in a chair and tried to talk to him, asking what was wrong.
He stared at me like he didn't know who I was and didn't acknowledge me at all for a good 10 minutes.
After that, he told me his nose itched and that he had a nightmare.

Nothing like this has happened before with him (3 years in care), although I have suspected (as does his mother) that he may be on the spectrum.

The parents picked up immediately and they said they'd let me know if he communicated anything more about it with them tonight. But, it scared me- it looks like he got attacked by vicious cat. It looked AWFUL and painful.

In all my years, I've never experienced this kind of self-hurt before and I'm not sure how to approach it.
Suggestions?

[BabyMonkeys]

Was he awake? Night terrors maybe?

[Snowmom]

I saw him sit up one time about 5 minutes before the cry/scratching. So, I don't think so, or it was a light sleep.

[Unregistered]

It sounds exactly like Night terrors. What's scary about it is they can be sitting up with their eyes open looking at you and not really be awake. He was probably still in his nightmare. He was reacting to what he was dreaming about.

[jenboo]

It sounds exactly like Night terrors. What's scary about it is they can be sitting up with their eyes open looking at you and not really be awake. He was probably still in his nightmare. He was reacting to what he was dreaming about.

This.
My nephew used to wake up screaming bloody murder. He would sit up in his bed with eyes open and everything. I would try to talk to him but he would never acknowledge me.
It was creepy.

[Thriftylady]

Not sure, but I would have him napping away from other children to protect myself and the other kiddos.

[permanentvacation]

Definitely sounds like night terrors to me too. A child can seem to be completely awake while they are actually dead asleep and in the middle of a nightmare. They can look right at you, just like you said, with a blank stare and not respond or react to you (because they really are asleep). Often times, kids will thrash about, scream, cry, etc. as if they are afraid and/or fighting someone/something. But it's all done while they are asleep even though often they have their eyes wide open and truly look like they are awake. Many times, after they do wake up, they don't remember anything about their night terror.

I would suggest that you and his parents research night terrors and see if you think that might be what he's having. Night terrors are completely normal and common. Typically children grow out of them. You and his parents can try to figure out what causes them, but often, no one ever knows.

Since he physically reacted to whatever (I'm guessing) he was dreaming about, I would keep him farther away from the other children during nap time. I also would not let him out of my sight at all during nap for a couple of weeks. I'd sit right there in the napping room with him right beside me the entire nap time. I would also keep notes about this episode and start keeping records of any further episode he has.

I hope the parents don't try to do anything legally against you. And I hope (for the child's sake as well as the parents and your sake) that this never happens again.

[childcaremom]

It sounds like night terrors.

I have a dcb3 that had a stretch of them over a 3 week period about 2 months ago. I googled them and some of his particular triggers were being overtired. Dcb would wake up screaming and crying, could be ongoing for 5-10 mins and then he wouldn't have any recollection of it afterwards.

They stopped and then he had one about 2 weeks ago. Again, for my dcb, I believe from being overtired.

My own ds had one once when he was about 4. It lasted about 10 mins and was a lot of screaming and flailing. Same thing: didn't remember it later.

[Blackcat31]

Hmmm, weird :confused: I was under the impression that night terrors happened during the night not during nap.

I also thought they happened during a specific phase of sleep.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/night-terrors/basics/definition/con-20032552

How long was DCB asleep when this occurred?

I've never had a child experience something like this while napping although I've had a couple kids wake up without really being fully awake but I've never had anyone self-harm or try to attack/lunge at someone else. That part really throws me off....but it could be my lack of experience with this subject..

I'm glad you have a good relationship with the parents as it sounds like you are able to communicate and work with them well.

I'm sorry this happened to you, I can only imagine how frightening it was.
:hug:

[Heidi]

Hmmm, weird :confused: I was under the impression that night terrors happened during the night not during nap.

I also thought they happened during a specific phase of sleep.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/night-terrors/basics/definition/con-20032552

How long was DCB asleep when this occurred?

I've never had a child experience something like this while napping although I've had a couple kids wake up without really being fully awake but I've never had anyone self-harm or try to attack/lunge at someone else. That part really throws me off....but it could be my lack of experience with this subject..

I'm glad you have a good relationship with the parents as it sounds like you are able to communicate and work with them well.

I'm sorry this happened to you, I can only imagine how frightening it was.
:hug:

My daughter sleep walked until the age of about 11 or 12. She did some weird stuff and talked nonsense when she had an episode. I think it did happen at nap once or twice, but mostly within an hour or two of going to bed at night.

I noticed that she did it more when under stress; like after we moved, and at sleepovers. Good thing I warned the other parents, because I got a couple phone calls afterwards saying "thanks for the warning, that was weird!"

For OP, I would document, report the incident to licensing, and get some evidence that he is under a doctor's care.

[Snowmom]

Thank you all for the advice and information.
After looking up some of the information you suggested, it does sound like "Night Terrors" or "Sleep Terrors". The self harming aspect of it is what really threw me off, because I (still) don't understand why he wouldn't wake himself after causing injury (pain) to himself.

The parents don't seem concerned with it, at least not this morning at drop off.
Which is a little disconcerting to me. His face looks like he was in a bar fight.

My plan is to keep him in another room, away from the other kids at nap. It may have been triggered because our routine was off yesterday. Hopefully I won't ever see a repeat of it.

[daycarediva]

It sounds exactly like Night terrors. What's scary about it is they can be sitting up with their eyes open looking at you and not really be awake. He was probably still in his nightmare. He was reacting to what he was dreaming about.

Not sure, but I would have him napping away from other children to protect myself and the other kiddos.

Agreed. My youngest has them and it is exactly as you described. He has attempted to hit me when I was moving him back to bed during an episode. It has happened at nap time before too, and typically within an hour-two of falling asleep at night.

Thank you all for the advice and information.
After looking up some of the information you suggested, it does sound like "Night Terrors" or "Sleep Terrors". The self harming aspect of it is what really threw me off, because I (still) don't understand why he wouldn't wake himself after causing injury (pain) to himself.

The parents don't seem concerned with it, at least not this morning at drop off.
Which is a little disconcerting to me. His face looks like he was in a bar fight.

My plan is to keep him in another room, away from the other kids at nap. It may have been triggered because our routine was off yesterday. Hopefully I won't ever see a repeat of it.

[laundrymom]

Listen to PV on this one.
She's spot on.
Keep his nails trimmed/filed. Try to limit his stress and keep him from being overtired and yes, nap him further away from others. Some docs say try to wake them. Some docs say to just monitor and keep them from hurting themselves further.
It's so scary though. I have a 4yr girl who has them 1/2 times a month at nap.

Definitely sounds like night terrors to me too. A child can seem to be completely awake while they are actually dead asleep and in the middle of a nightmare. They can look right at you, just like you said, with a blank stare and not respond or react to you (because they really are asleep). Often times, kids will thrash about, scream, cry, etc. as if they are afraid and/or fighting someone/something. But it's all done while they are asleep even though often they have their eyes wide open and truly look like they are awake. Many times, after they do wake up, they don't remember anything about their night terror.

I would suggest that you and his parents research night terrors and see if you think that might be what he's having. Night terrors are completely normal and common. Typically children grow out of them. You and his parents can try to figure out what causes them, but often, no one ever knows.

Since he physically reacted to whatever (I'm guessing) he was dreaming about, I would keep him farther away from the other children during nap time. I also would not let him out of my sight at all during nap for a couple of weeks. I'd sit right there in the napping room with him right beside me the entire nap time. I would also keep notes about this episode and start keeping records of any further episode he has.

I hope the parents don't try to do anything legally against you. And I hope (for the child's sake as well as the parents and your sake) that this never happens again.

[mamamanda]

My son had night terrors & also struggled to fall asleep every night. We're talking 2 hours of laying in bed resting quietly & finally crying b/c he can't turn his mind off each night. I researched a lot & couldn't find anything to help. Then I just stumbled onto an article about the link between nutritional deficiencies and sleep problems. Magnesium deficiency was the number one listed. I started using a topical magnesium gel & noticed a significant difference immediately. No night terrors since (almost a year now) & easily falls asleep within 20 when following his normal routine. If it continues you might suggest they check into that.

[Snowmom]

My son had night terrors & also struggled to fall asleep every night. We're talking 2 hours of laying in bed resting quietly & finally crying b/c he can't turn his mind off each night. I researched a lot & couldn't find anything to help. Then I just stumbled onto an article about the link between nutritional deficiencies and sleep problems. Magnesium deficiency was the number one listed. I started using a topical magnesium gel & noticed a significant difference immediately. No night terrors since (almost a year now) & easily falls asleep within 20 when following his normal routine. If it continues you might suggest they check into that.

That's really interesting, thanks for sharing.