Shouting and thrashing are not signs of good sleep, yet this is what children with night terrors may exhibit a few hours after going to bed. It can be concerning for parents to see, but the good news is that the child remains unaffected by it—come morning, they won’t remember it at all.
Still, night terrors come with a fear of the child injuring themselves, especially if they get up and move around during it. While you won’t be able to wake up your child during the night terror, there are actions you can take to protect them as you ride it out.
You don’t have to feel defenseless against night terrors; being proactive about your child’s sleep can prevent an episode during the night and help them sleep better, nurturing their health and well-being.
Why Do Children Get Night Terrors?
Night terrors are inherited disorders in which a child has dreams during deep sleep. This sleep stage is characterized by slowed breathing and lowered muscle tone, making it notoriously hard to wake someone. Because of this, when children dream during deep sleep, they have difficulty waking up from the dream, and you may not be able to awaken them.
Night terrors can cause children to thrash, shout, or even get out of bed while still asleep. They generally happen within two hours of a child going to bed.
Watching your child go through these episodes can be distressing, but remember that it’s harmless to the child. Unlike a nightmare, which can linger, children don’t remember night terrors after they happen.
Additionally, night terrors are not a sign that your child is under psychological stress, so don’t worry about that. Instead, night terrors are inherited, meaning if a child’s parent had night terrors as a kid, the child is more likely to experience them as well.
As for what triggers a night terror, instead of being set off by trauma or stress during the day, like nightmares, they’re often triggered by being overtired. In some cases, if a child has recurring night terrors, they may have a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, that reduces their quality of sleep.
For children who have night terrors, they usually go away by the time they turn 12, although they may stop sooner for some.
What Does a Night Terror Look Like?
If your child has a night terror, they may exhibit any of the following:
- Sitting up or running around
- Being agitated or restless but cannot be awakened or comforted
- Not realizing that you’re there even though their eyes are open and staring
- Screaming or talking wildly
- Appearing to be anxious but not mentioning specific fears
- Mistaking objects or people in the room for dangers
- Not remembering the episode in the morning
Helping Your Child Manage Night Terrors
If your child experiences night terrors, first know that it’s scarier for you than it is for them. By the time they wake up, they won’t remember what was happening in their subconscious, and the fear doesn’t remain with them during the day.
Night terrors are rarely treated with medication. Instead, focus on calming your child back to sleep and ensuring they remain safe during their episode.
If your child is experiencing a night terror, don’t try to wake your child—it’s impossible—so instead try the following:
- Turn on the lights so your child is not as confused by shadows.
- Speak calmly and repetitively.
- Make soothing comments such as, “You’re safe. You are home in your bed. You can rest now.” These relaxing and repetitive comments are often better than silence.
- Offer to hold their hand, but know that many kids will pull away, and that’s okay.
- Hold your child if it helps them feel better.
- If your child gets out of bed, gently direct them back.
- Ensure they avoid stairs, walls, and windows.
Know that there is nothing you can do to shorten a night terror; you can only try to calm your child and ensure they remain safe if they get up and move around. Attempting to wake your child by shaking or shouting will only cause them to become more agitated and may prolong the episode.
You can also be proactive and follow these tips for preventing night terrors:
Prevent Overtiredness
The number one thing that can trigger a night terror is being overtired, so do what you can to keep your child from being too tired.
For preschool-age children, this may mean restoring an afternoon nap. If your child does not want to nap, replace this time with “quiet time” so they can still experience a restful hour in their day.
Ensure that bedtimes are not too late. If your child has to wake up at a certain time because of school or daycare, use the CDC’s recommended sleep times to count backward from their wake-up time and determine their ideal bedtime. As a note, though, your child should awaken in the morning on their own at the time they need to be up by. If you need to wake them up, they should go to sleep earlier. This may mean avoiding late-night activities, but it will preserve your child’s sleep.
Keep Them Cool
Your child’s sleep environment may trigger a night terror, especially if it causes them to be uncomfortable in sleep. For instance, a room that is too hot can trigger a night terror, so keep the room at a lower temperature during the night and use a fan to cool it down if necessary. As a bonus, fans are a natural source of white noise, which can help promote higher-quality sleep.
Along these lines, a hot bath right before bed may raise your child’s body temperature. Instead, try a warm bath or shower earlier in their nighttime routine.
Treat Ailments
Fever, inflammation, teething, or illness can trigger a night terror, so try to address them before bed, if possible. For example, offering an anti-inflammatory, such as Motrin, to treat fever or inflammation can help them sleep better and reduce the risk of a night terror.
When To Seek Help
In very rare cases, night terrors may be because of a medical problem, such as a sleep disorder, seizure, or movement disorder. Again, this is very rare, but if your child has other concerning symptoms or you’re ever worried about their night terrors, don’t hesitate to reach out to your pediatrician.
Otherwise, night terrors can be managed through soothing and protective actions during the episode. You can also complete preventative actions before bed to hopefully keep them from occurring.
For more tips on how to improve your child’s sleep, check out Pillow’s resource library.
