😱Night Terrors
Understanding and managing night terrors in children: causes, symptoms, and treatment
What Are Night Terrors?
A night terror (also called sleep terror) is similar to a nightmare, but is far more dramatic. A child having a night terror wakes up screaming and is impossible to comfort. They don't seem aware that someone is there trying to help them feel better. Eventually the child goes back to sleep and usually won't remember the night terror when they wake.
Night terrors can be alarming to see, but they're not harmful and kids almost always grow out of them.
⚠️What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Night Terrors?
A child having a night terror might:
Physical Signs:
- •Suddenly sit upright in bed
- •Have faster breathing and a quicker heartbeat
- •Be sweating
- •Thrash around
Behavioral Signs:
- •Act very upset and afraid
- •Shout out or scream in distress
- •Get up and run from the bed
- •Be impossible to comfort
After a few minutes, or sometimes longer, the child calms down and goes back to sleep.
🧠What Happens in Night Terrors?
Night terrors usually happen about 2–3 hours after a child falls asleep. This is when the brain is in non-REM (non-rapid eye movement) stages of sleep. The child partly wakes up, and the area of the brain that controls "fight-or-flight" responses becomes overexcited. This makes the child feel panicked and terrified.
Who Gets Night Terrors:
- •Most common in kids younger than 13 years old
- •Often run in families
- •May have a single night terror or several
- •Usually go away on their own before teen years
What Can Trigger Night Terrors:
- •Not getting enough sleep
- •Being sick
- •Taking some types of medicines
- •Sleeping in a new place or away from home
- •Anxiety or stress
- •Having too much caffeine
Sleep Disturbances:
Because night terrors happen when a child is partially awake, things that disturb sleep can make night terrors more likely (such as obstructive sleep apnea and reflux). Night terrors and other sleep disturbances, such as sleepwalking, often run in families.
🔍How Are Night Terrors Diagnosed?
Doctors usually diagnose night terrors by asking about what happened and doing an exam. Medical tests usually aren't needed.
💜How Are Night Terrors Treated?
Doctors teach parents what to do when their child has a night terror and how to help prevent them. Night terrors can be very upsetting for parents, who might feel helpless when they can't comfort their child. But kids are OK and probably won't remember the night terror the next day.
During a Night Terror:
If your child has a night terror, the best way to handle it is to:
- •Sit quietly near your child
- •Be sure they don't get hurt by thrashing or running around
- •Wait patiently until your child goes back to sleep, usually within a few minutes
Don't try to wake your child. This usually doesn't work, and kids who do wake are likely to be confused and upset. They also might take longer to settle down and go back to sleep.
Prevention Strategies:
To help prevent night terrors, try to:
- •Help your child manage stress
- •Help your child have a bedtime routine that's simple and relaxing
- •Make sure your child gets enough sleep
- •Follow the doctor's treatment recommendations if your child has obstructive sleep apnea or reflux
Timing Strategy: If your child has a night terror around the same time every night, you can try waking them up about 15–30 minutes before then to see if that helps prevent it.
📞When Should I Call the Doctor?
Most kids outgrow night terrors. But talk to your doctor if:
Frequency and Duration:
- •The night terrors last longer than 30 minutes
- •Happen more than once a week
- •Prevent your child from getting enough sleep
Concerning Symptoms:
- •Your child seems very sad, fearful, or stressed during the day
- •Your child has drooling, stiffening, or jerking during the night terror
- •Your child snores, has heartburn, or has frequent burping
💡What Else Should I Know?
Understanding night terrors can ease your worry — and help you get a good night's sleep yourself. If you still have concerns, talk to your child's doctor about whether seeing a sleep specialist or other specialist would help.
❓Frequently Asked Questions About Night Terrors
What's the difference between night terrors and nightmares?
Night terrors are far more dramatic than nightmares. During a night terror, a child wakes up screaming and is impossible to comfort, doesn't seem aware of someone trying to help, and usually won't remember the episode the next day. Nightmares happen during REM sleep and children can usually be comforted and will remember the dream.
Should I try to wake my child during a night terror?
No, don't try to wake your child during a night terror. This usually doesn't work, and kids who do wake are likely to be confused and upset. They also might take longer to settle down and go back to sleep. Instead, sit quietly near your child, make sure they don't get hurt, and wait patiently until they go back to sleep.
When do night terrors typically occur during the night?
Night terrors usually happen about 2-3 hours after a child falls asleep, during non-REM (non-rapid eye movement) stages of sleep. This is when the child partly wakes up and the area of the brain that controls "fight-or-flight" responses becomes overexcited, making the child feel panicked and terrified.
Do children remember night terrors the next day?
No, children usually won't remember the night terror when they wake up the next day. This is because night terrors occur during non-REM sleep, not during the dreaming phase. The child goes back to sleep and typically has no memory of the episode, which is different from nightmares that children often remember.
What can trigger night terrors in children?
Night terrors can be triggered by not getting enough sleep, being sick, taking certain medicines, sleeping in a new place, anxiety or stress, or having too much caffeine. Things that disturb sleep (like obstructive sleep apnea and reflux) can also make night terrors more likely since they happen when a child is partially awake.
How can I prevent night terrors in my child?
Help your child manage stress, establish a simple and relaxing bedtime routine, make sure they get enough sleep, and follow doctor's recommendations for any underlying conditions like sleep apnea or reflux. If night terrors happen at the same time each night, you can try waking your child 15-30 minutes before that time to see if it helps prevent them.
At what age do children typically outgrow night terrors?
Night terrors are most common in kids younger than 13 years old, and most children outgrow them before the teen years. They often run in families, and a child might have a single night terror or several before they stop. Most of the time, night terrors simply go away on their own without treatment.
Are night terrors harmful to my child?
No, night terrors are not harmful to children. While they can be alarming for parents to witness, the child is OK and probably won't remember the night terror the next day. However, you should ensure your child doesn't get hurt by thrashing or running around during the episode.
When should I be concerned about my child's night terrors?
Talk to your doctor if night terrors last longer than 30 minutes, happen more than once a week, prevent your child from getting enough sleep, or if your child seems very sad, fearful, or stressed during the day. Also seek help if your child has drooling, stiffening, or jerking during the night terror, or if they snore, have heartburn, or frequent burping.
Do night terrors run in families?
Yes, night terrors and other sleep disturbances, such as sleepwalking, often run in families. This genetic component helps explain why some children are more prone to night terrors than others. If you or your partner experienced night terrors as children, your child may be more likely to have them as well.