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Help Me To Understand

My son's girlfriend told us that the round, red welt on my 10 month old grandson's head was from her dreaming about fighting with someone and in her dream she bit the person on the shoulder, and woke to her baby son screaming in pain.


Should I be worried that this is something very serious and could continue or worsen? My son and his girlfriend are insulted and angry at me for questioning it. Could this just be an isolated incident? They have a crib but they don't use it. They are only 20yrs. old and she is a very angry person. I don't know what to do, if anything. I just don't want this to turn into one of the horrific stories I just read about on this site.

Kevin: Thanks for sharing your story. This doesn't have to be an isolated incident. If the girl has demonstrated acting out her dreams in the past, she could very easily act out the dreams again in the future. Depending upon the content of the dreams, this could be dangerous for the baby if they are sleeping together in the same bed. If it was me with elements of RBD, I would sleep separately from the baby, and see a sleep specialist who may be able to help me prevent my RBD symptoms.

All the best,
Kevin


(Please keep in mind that I am a student of sleep science and not a medical doctor. Please take any thoughts I give with my background in mind.)

Comments for Help Me To Understand

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Jun 29, 2011
 Thanks To The Anonymous Commenter
by: Kevin Morton

Thank you to the above commenter for the strong sense of urgency and for putting the matter in perspective. I too think co-sleeping sounds like a beautiful and harmonious idea, but if there's a risk from a sleep disorder (or a potential sleep disorder) of harming the child--mildly or severely--that's a risk that absolutely shouldn't be taken. And if the baby's parent(s) don't see that, this would be up there with the most worthwhile times to intervene.

I particularly like the way the commenter puts it here: "This is a time when keeping the peace has to come second to doing what's right." The peace won't matter if something tragic were to happen. Thanks again to the commenter for the great perspective provided.
Jul 16, 2011
 I Only BIT Once
by: Becca

As I posted elsewhere, I bit my little granddaughter. It has only happened once, but I talk and flail my arms and legs occasionally.

I didn't let myself zonk out like that again when reading the grandbebes to sleep, though.

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