欧博abgHow to help your child through night terrors
Waking up in the middle of the night to hear your child intensely crying or screaming can be alarming. If your child seems extremely frightened or panicked, and is even kicking, talking or sleepwalking, they might be experiencing a night terror, sometimes called a sleep terror.
While unnerving to parents and caregivers, night terrors are not dangerous – and about 30 to 40% of kids will have them at some point. The average age for night terrors to begin is age 3, but they can start at any age.
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When a child is having a night terror, they may:
Scream, shout, kick, or cry.
Sit up in bed and look scared or wide-eyed.
Sweat, breathe heavily, and have a racing pulse.
Have a flushed face and large pupils.
Be hard to comfort.
Get out of bed and try to run around.
How long do night terrors last?Typically, a night terror usually lasts anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes (and rarely longer than 30 minutes).
Kids may have them a few times a week or a few times a month.
Most kids outgrow night terrors by age 12.
How are night terrors different from nightmares?Night terrors in children are different from nightmares in a few important ways, including that the child:
May have their eyes open and appear to be awake. (But they’re not awake. They’re actually in a deep sleep.)
Will not respond to you as they normally do. (Because they’re deeply asleep!)
Will not remember having the night terror when they wake up the next day.
Will typically go back to sleep more easily than after having a nightmare.
With nightmares, children are responsive and consolable, and they’ll usually remember it the next day. This is not the case for night terrors.
Did you know? Nightmares tend to happen more often in the later portion of the night or early morning, while night terrors happen in the first third of the night, typically 1 to 3 hours after going to sleep.
How to care for your child during a night terrorIn the middle of a night terror, it’s important to:
Remain calm.
Allow your child to sleep through the episode. (Trying to wake them up can actually make things worse.)
Resist the urge to question them about what’s going on. (They won’t be able to tell you.)
Gently direct them back to bed, if they sleepwalk or try to leave the bed. (If you sense resistance, let them settle down first and then gently guide them back to bed.)
Avoid talking about it the next day. (They won’t remember it and may feel worried or embarrassed if you bring it up.)
If your child happens to ask you about a night terror, let them know that night terrors are normal and not their fault.
“You can also reassure a child by making sure they know they are not doing anything wrong, there’s no reason to be embarrassed or worried, that you’ll be there to protect them during a night terror, and that they will likely grow out of them,” says Dr. Caraballo.
Did you know? Night terrors are not a sign of psychological problems and they won’t cause any psychological harm to your child.
If your child sleepwalks during a night terror“Most children with night terrors do not get out of bed. But some children will sleepwalk. And if they sleepwalk, there’s a chance they could injure themselves.” says Dr. Caraballo.
You can help prevent injury in a child who sleepwalks if you:
Secure all doors and windows.
Clear the floor of anything your child may step on or trip over.
Put locks high up on the doors.
Place bells or alarms on outside doors so you’ll be alerted if your child tries to leave the house.
How to talk to others about night terrorsIf your child has night terrors, Dr. Caraballo recommends talking to babysitters, grandparents, overnight camp counselors and other caregivers about what they are and what they can do if your child has one while in their care.
“If your kid is going to a sleepover, you can explain to the parents that your child has occasional night terrors, which can seem quite scary but are not at all dangerous, and generally only last a short time,” says Dr. Caraballo. “Let them know that if one happens, they should not try to wake your child up – but rather gently guide them back to sleep.”
And if your kid wants to explain what a night terror is to their peers, they might say something like: “A night terror can seem like a scary dream. I might scream or cry. It might look like I’m awake, but I’m really not, and I never remember it the next day. It can be a little freaky, but it’s not dangerous and it’s not something I can control.”
Do kids need treatment for night terrors?“In most cases, night terrors don’t require any specific treatment. And most children outgrow them by age 12,” says Dr. Caraballo.
But it’s a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician if your child:
Has been injured during a night terror.
Has repeated night terrors that are severely disrupting your family.
Has signs of other sleep disorders like
Is older and is still having night terrors.
Has night terrors that are happening multiple times a night or that last longer than 30 minutes.
What causes night terrors?Experts don’t fully understand what causes night terrors, but there is a strong genetic component. In addition, certain things can trigger night terrors on any given night in children who are predisposed to them. These risk factors include:
Being sleep deprived or not getting enough sleep
Stress or illness
Sleeping in a new place (such as at a friend’s house or on vacation)
Did you know? Most children experience night terrors 1 to 3 hours after they fall asleep.
How parents can help prevent night terrorsThe best way to help your child prevent night terrors is to make sure they’re getting enough sleep.
Dr. Michelle Caraballo, M.D.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should sleep:
12 to 16 hours per day (including naps) between ages 4 to 12 months
11 to 14 hours per day (including naps) between ages 1 to 2
10 to 13 hours per day (including naps) between ages 3 to 5
9 to 12 hours per day between ages 6 to 12
8 to 10 hours per day between ages 13 to 18
“When a child is overly tired, they’re likely to get more of the deepest stage of sleep, since their body is trying to catch up,” explains Dr. Caraballo. “Since this is the stage of sleep when night terrors occur, they’re more likely to have a night terror when sleep deprived.”
Having a consistent sleep routine is very important for all kids, but it’s especially important for kids who have night terrors. By limiting changes to their sleep schedule or sleep environment, you may be able to help your child avoid night terrors.
Tip: For children who experience night terrors at about the same time every night, Dr. Caraballo sometimes recommends scheduled awakenings. This is a behavioral strategy where the parent enters the room 15 to 20 minutes before the night terror typically occurs and stirs the child just enough to gently awaken them. This helps reset the sleep cycle and can prevent the night terror.
Learn moreLearn how the pediatric sleep medicine experts at Children’s Health can help your child experience a great night’s rest.