I didn't have to deal with many episodes like you have had to, but I did have this happen with both my children around the age of two. It is very frightening and as a parent you feel helpless. You could mention it to your doctor, but I think it is a phase. A very difficult phase, but a phase. I do have one suggestion to you since he is now sleepwalking. There are security chain locks that you can install on your house entry doors from the inside toward the top of the door where children can't reach. They are very cheap, a few bucks, you can find them everywhere. The cheap hook and eye clasps work well, too. Install them high up where your child can't reach. If he should happen to be sleepwalking and you do not wake up, this will insure that he stays IN your home. (Just to clarify, I'm talking about putting them on your front door and back door, etc. I'm NOT talking about putting them on interior doors like bedroom doors. So please don't misunderstand me.) My little cousin was AWFUL at sleepwalking. Once he took off in the middle of the night around 3 years old and it took the cops six hours to find him. He was two blocks away. My aunt was hysterical. A few bucks for prevention that might save you a lot of worry and heartache. Hang in there. No phase lasts long with kids! Just remember that.

By discription alone, it sounds like your son is experiencing "Night Terrors" and not "Nightmares". The difference is, with nightmares the child usually wakes, with night terrors they usually stay asleep for the duration of the episode. Nightmares are usually very short and terrors can last 10-30 minutes. I never experienced this with my daughter but I remember when I read about it in my "What to Expect, The Toddler Years" book. It scared the heck out of me and I hoped and hoped I would never have to experience it. If you have the book refer to pages 312-314.

According to the authors advice, if your son is waking, console him and make him feel safe. If he is staying asleep, DON"T wake him, watch(as hard as that is going to be) and make sure he doesn't injure himself. He should return to peaceful sleep when it is over. It says that there are several factors that can cause nightmares and terrors. Coping from the book - Stress(such as family discord, or tension), change(new sitter, move, new school, new bed), illness, and pre-bedtime excesses( overstimulation, excitement or food). It also says that night terrors occur more often when a child is overtired. Definately bring it up with your son's pediatrician. Don't ever worry about looking stupid with their doctors, they are there to help with the smallest to the biggest issues with children. My daughter's pediatrican's office has what they call "Mommy radar" appointments. When you call and you know there is nothing obviously wrong with your child but they just "don't seem right", they will either give me a same day appointment or I can speak to the Triage Nurse or Doctor.
I wish you all best and I hope for you and your son's sake that this is a SHORT lived phase.
Smile, it increases your face value!
Jodi

Even tho you said he doesn't watch much TV, try eliminating it completely for a week or two. Kids this age are SO visual and everything seems real to them, especially when they are dreaming. Disney movies are the worst for causing nightmares, put them away till he is older and can handle it, but my son has had dreams that scared him from something he saw on the Wiggles, so really it could be anything!

Karen Clark - Mom of 3 in California
National Executive Director
Story Time Felts
http://www.funfelt.com