Thanks to a lovely lady, I've just remember something else that used to happen during Sophia's sleep when she was smaller. If Sophia was nervous or worrying about anything, she would naturally have bad dreams like any other child but there was no way you could go in and comfort her easily. If you attempted to soothe or cuddle her, you would end up really freaking her out in her sleep. The reaction was very similar to the distressed meltdowns she would have when she was awake and sometimes you weren't entirely sure she wasn't still asleep.
We approached it the same way we would her waking meltdowns (if you don't know that story, see http://ourrainbowrose.blogspot.com/2011/05/down-side.html). I'd put on some nice music and say in a soft, slow, low tone of voice, 'Its ok Sophia, shhhhh.....go back to sleep'. You say the same thing, the same way, every time. It took about a week but she started to respond because it became like a key calming-down phrase for her. It turns out that children in that state can hear and respond to a calm, low voice of someone they know, no matter how loud the screaming! You'll be pleased to know that Sophia doesn't freakout in her sleep anymore. In fact, an odd point of proof that she was hearing me in those difficult moments.....whenever I'm freaking out - she uses the very same phrase on me!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment