Night terrors are more common in children with a family history of night terrors or sleepwalking behaviour. The best thing to do if your child is having an episode of night terrors is to stay calm and wait until they calm down. Don't intervene or interact with them, unless they're not safe. Night terrors can be frightening to witness, but they don't harm your child. You shouldn't attempt to wake your child when they're having an episode. They may not recognise you and may become more agitated if you try to comfort them.
Your child won't remember the episode the next morning, but it may still help to have a general chat to find out if anything is worrying them and triggering the episodes.
It'll also help if they have a relaxing bedtime routine. Try not to discuss the episodes with your child in a way that worries them as this may increase their anxiety.
If the night terror episodes are frequent and occur at a specific time every night, you may find that waking your child breaks the cycle. This can disrupt their sleep pattern enough to stop the episodes without affecting sleep quality.
Most children eventually grow out of night terrors. But talk to your GP if they're occurring several times a night or most nights. In a small number of children who have frequent episodes of night terrors, referral to a specialist service may be needed. Nightmares usually occur later in the night and cause strong feelings of terror, fear, distress or anxiety.
Nightmares in children can be caused by a frightening experience, such as watching a scary film, or by something that's worrying them. Talk to your child to find out whether anything is worrying them that could be triggering their nightmares. Take your child to see your GP if they're having repeated nightmares a series of nightmares with a recurring theme. Before bedtime, try to avoid using electronic devices, working, or any stimulating activities. Instead, try meditating, relaxing in a bath, or reading a book.
Avoiding caffeine late in the day and limiting alcohol use may also help reduce episodes. Making a bedroom comfortable and quiet may help with night terrors as well. If your night terrors tend to happen around the same time, try waking yourself up about 15 minutes before they would typically happen. Stay awake for several minutes before going back to sleep. In some cases, night terrors could be a sign of stress, trauma, anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns. If nothing seems to be working, consider seeking support from a therapist.
You can book an appointment with a mental health professional in your area using our Healthline FindCare tool. A therapist can help you identify any underlying issues and help you develop new coping tools. Biofeedback , hypnosis , and cognitive behavioral therapy can all help. If you live with or share a bed with a partner who has night terrors, there are a few things you can do to offer comfort and keep them safe.
Avoid trying to wake them up during an episode. You may not be able to wake them, but even if you can, they may become confused or upset. This could cause them to act out physically, potentially injuring both of you. What you can do is be there to offer comfort without getting physically involved. Talk to them in a calm, quiet voice. But back off as soon as you sense any hesitation or aggression. If your partner feels embarrassed the next day when they hear about their behavior, try to offer reassurance and understanding.
Consider showing support by helping them keep track of episodes in a sleep diary or going with them to a therapist appointment. Night terrors are short, frightening episodes might cause you to cry out or get up in your sleep. If you experience night terrors often or find them difficult to cope with, start by making an appointment with your doctor. They can help you narrow down a potential cause or help you find a sleep specialist or therapist.
These are common scenarios in dreams triggered…. These are…. Also, children may be more likely to have night terrors when they have a fever, are under stress, are not sleeping enough, or are very physically active. Some researchers believe that there is a genetic component to night terrors, though they have not identified a specific gene or combination of genes involved. A night terror does not stem from a health condition, though some babies with night terrors have other sleep issues, such as insomnia.
There is no treatment that can end night terrors, but most babies grow out of them. To help manage the issue, try:. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents and babies share a room, but not a bed, for at least the first 6 months , and preferably the first year, of life.
In adults, antianxiety medication may help ease night terrors, but these are not recommended for babies. While doctors sometimes recommend sleep studies for people with other sleep disorders, these tend to be of little help for people with night terrors.
Night terrors usually go away on their own. However, let the pediatrician know about the issue. They should ensure that the baby is not experiencing a different problem. Also, let a doctor know if a baby seems very agitated or afraid during the day.
If a toddler walks in their sleep, it is important to report this, too. No strategy has been scientifically proven to prevent night terrors. It may also help to:. Night terrors can be very disruptive and scary for everyone involved.
However, they are not dangerous, and they usually go away on their own. Anyone who thinks that their baby is experiencing this should notify a pediatrician, who can diagnose the issue and identify any changes that may help.
Night terrors in toddlers are common.
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