Night terrors are common in young children. These children often wake up crying and screaming, eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic. Although it will seem like they are awake, the children will be inconsolable and might not recognize you. Parents are usually very disturbed and alarmed by the episodes.
Typical night terrors last about 5 to 30 minutes and afterwards, children usually return back to sleep. If you are able to wake your child up during a night terror, he is likely to become scared and agitated, mostly because of your own reaction to the night terror, especially if you were shaking or yelling at him to wake up. Instead of trying to wake up a child having a night terror, it is usually better to just make sure he is safe, comfort him if you can, and help him return to sleep once it is over.
The child often cannot recall the event and unlike nightmares, sleep terrors are not associated with vivid dreams or nightmares that are remembered upon awakening.
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The exact cause isn’t known, but night terrors are often linked to stress, sleep deprivation, fever, or a disruption in sleep cycles. In adults, they may also be associated with underlying mental health or sleep disorders.
Night terrors occur during deep (non-REM) sleep and are characterized by intense fear with no memory of a dream upon waking. Nightmares, on the other hand, happen during REM sleep, and the person usually remembers the dream content.
Symptoms include sitting up in bed, screaming, sweating, rapid heartbeat, flailing, and appearing terrified. The person may also be difficult to wake up and may not respond to comfort.
While night terrors can be alarming, they are usually harmless. However, physical injuries can occur if the person moves around or falls out of bed during an episode.
Regular sleep schedules, adequate rest, reducing stress, and creating a calming bedtime routine can help reduce night terrors. For children, maintaining a predictable bedtime routine is especially helpful.
Stay calm and avoid trying to wake them, as this can increase their distress. Ensure they are safe, gently guide them back to bed if needed, and let the episode pass.
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