5 Symptoms of Night Terrors in Children

It’s normal for children to have a bad dream now and then. But research suggests that 40% of children suffer from night terrors. Night terrors in children are not usually anything to worry about, but there are some steps you can take if your child has them. A night terror differs from a bad dream in that it’s not usually something the child remembers the next day, and it may be accompanied by behaviors that alarm others in the household.

How do you know if your child suffers from night terrors?

• Your child screams or thrashes in his sleep. Night terrors in children can be disturbing for other siblings who may share a room because they’re awakened to screaming or thrashing. The children who have night terrors are usually unaware of what’s happening and don’t remember it the next morning.
• Your child is hard to wake up or appears disoriented and confused when awakened. If a child needs to be woken up in the middle of a night terror, it can be difficult. He or she is likely very unaware of what’s happening and, therefore, is confused when you try to wake him or her up.
• These terrors are happening within the first one-third to one-half of the sleep cycle. Research shows that they are typically harmless, but recurring night terrors can happen. They almost always take place in the first half of a child’s sleep routine.
• Your child gets out of bed during a terror. Many children’s night terrors are coupled with sleepwalking and possibly even pushing back or exhibiting aggressive behavior if you try to stop them.
• Your child’s eyes are open during the episode, but they don’t seem to see you or acknowledge what you’re saying. This is a common occurrence because children can be asleep yet show awake signs during a night terror.

What causes night terrors in children?

Night terrors in children can occur for a variety of reasons. They can be genetic. If someone else in the family had them, a child may be more susceptible to developing them. While most children who have night terrors are aged 1.5-4, children through age 12-14 can also have them. Other reasons for night terrors include poor sleep quality or an infection that comes with a fever. These may be temporary and only last for a season.

What can parents do to help a child in the middle of a night terror?

Children who are in the middle of night terrors may be frightened if you try to wake them. It is generally recommended not to wake them; instead, you should try to help your child fall back asleep. Soothing gestures and voices are helpful, too. Never shout at your child when he or she is having a night terror. This can cause him or her to get even more upset.

Wait for your child to stop thrashing around, and if it soothes him, try to console him by rubbing his hand or just sitting nearby. It’s also important that he does not injure himself or others.

If you find that your child has repeated night terrors combined with sleepwalking, you’ll want to make sure her sleep environment is safe. Windows should remain locked at bedtime, and doors should be inaccessible for exit. Also, make sure there are no items strewn throughout her bedroom that she could trip over.

Is there any way I can help prevent night terrors in children?

Children who have poor sleep quality may be more susceptible to night terrors. So it’s important, even for older children, to have a trustworthy, calm nighttime routine. Consider helping your older child engage in a relaxing activity an hour before bedtime. It could be a bath or shower and reading, or he may feel calmed by doing gentle breathing and/or yoga exercises.

Younger children benefit from a very consistent nightly routine. So if your nights are chaotic or don’t follow a schedule, it may be time to add some structure. Nighttime for young children often includes dinner, bathing, a few stories, and then lights out.

If you notice that your child has a night terror around the same time, try waking him or her up before that time each night. For some children, it can help to disrupt their sleep pattern, get a sip of water, and return to bed.

Most importantly, however, is a regular time for bed each night. Sometimes, just being overtired can cause night terror. If a young child has recently dropped his or her daily nap and starts to have night terrors, consider allowing your child to start napping during the day again.

How do I know if the trouble is a night terror or just a nightmare?

Especially in younger children who aren’t speaking much, it can be very disheartening to hear our children screaming in the night. Some differences between a nightmare and a night terror are that a nightmare is something you can usually remember – at least in part – when you wake up.

Other characteristics of nightmares include trouble going back to sleep and they are occasional. Night terrors are not usually remembered at all the next day.

If you or your child suffers from frequent nightmares, if you or your child have suddenly developed the same nightmare over and over, or if you struggle to recover from them, it’s worth seeking medical attention. While the majority of adults have had at least one nightmare at some point in their life, night terrors are much rarer.

Will my child outgrow night terrors?

Most children do outgrow night terrors by the time puberty sets in, but a small fraction continue to have them into adulthood.

Only 2-4% of adolescents and adults have night terrors. Sometimes, these can be brought on by trauma or other psychological issues. If this describes you or someone you love, seeing a doctor to uncover the cause is helpful.

When should I consult a doctor for my child’s night terrors?

Because night terrors in children usually pass with time, it’s helpful to mention them to your pediatrician. But he or she will likely not be alarmed. However, if your child’s night terrors seem to increase in severity, length, or frequency, inform your child’s doctor.

Also, it’s important to trust your parental intuition. If you feel your child’s night terrors have escalated to a degree that they are harming your child or causing family turmoil, you should seek outside help. Counselors who are trained in family therapy can guide you and the others in your family through this season.

Specific issues to look for include episodes lasting longer than thirty to forty-five minutes, if your child does something dangerous during a night terror, and certainly if you feel trauma or family stress is a factor in your child’s night terrors. Don’t try to solve the problem alone.

Other reasons to seek your physician’s guidance are if your child drools, jerks, or stiffens his or her body during a night terror. Regularly-interrupted sleep is also not healthy for your child. The frequency and regularity with which he or she suffers are important.

Try keeping a sleep journal so that you can write down the characteristics of each night terror episode, dates, and what time they occur. Monitoring these patterns will give your healthcare provider more information when you do seek his or her advice.

In addition, make sure your babysitter and/or your child’s grandparents and other caregivers are equipped to know what to do if your child has a night terror while you’re out. They must be cautioned not to shout back, ignore the child, or try to wake him or her.

Even if your child who suffers from night terrors seems fine and doesn’t remember them, it could be highly disruptive to the rest of your family. If so, definitely seek out one of our trained family counselors.