🚶Sleepwalking
Understanding and managing sleepwalking in children
What Is Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism) is very common in kids. Most kids who walk in their sleep do so only occasionally and outgrow it by the teen years.
Kids tend to sleepwalk within an hour or two of falling asleep and may walk around for anywhere from a few seconds to 30 minutes. It's hard to wake a sleepwalker. When awakened, they might feel groggy and disoriented for a few minutes.
🌙What Happens During Sleepwalking?
Despite its name, sleepwalking involves more than just walking. Sleepwalking behaviors can be harmless, potentially dangerous, or inappropriate.
Types of Sleepwalking Behaviors:
- •Harmless: like sitting up
- •Potentially dangerous: such as wandering outside
- •Inappropriate: like opening a closet door and peeing inside
Common Sleepwalking Symptoms:
- •Getting out of bed and walking around while still sleeping
- •Talk in their sleep
- •Be hard to wake up
- •Seem dazed or clumsy
- •Not respond when spoken to
Important Characteristics:
Visual Perception:
Sleepwalkers' eyes are open, but they don't see the same way they do when they're awake. Often, they think they're in different rooms of the house or different places altogether.
Memory:
After sleepwalking episodes, they probably won't remember ever having done it. This is completely normal and not a cause for concern.
🔍What Causes Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking is far more common in kids than in adults. It may run in families, so if you or your partner are or were sleepwalkers, your child may be too.
Triggers for Sleepwalking Episodes:
- •Lack of sleep or being very tired
- •Irregular sleep schedules
- •Illness or fever
- •Some medicines
- •Stress
Associated Conditions:
Sometimes, these other conditions may happen with sleepwalking:
- •Sleep apnea (brief pauses in breathing while sleeping)
- •Bedwetting (enuresis)
- •Night terrors
⚠️Is Sleepwalking Harmful?
Sleepwalking Itself:
Sleepwalking itself is not harmful. It usually isn't a sign that a child has an emotional or psychological issue. And it doesn't cause any emotional harm. Sleepwalkers probably won't even remember the nighttime stroll.
Key Points:
- • Not a sign of emotional problems
- • Doesn't cause emotional harm
- • Children won't remember episodes
- • Most outgrow it by teen years
Potential Hazards:
But sleepwalking can be hazardous because sleepwalking kids aren't awake and may not realize what they're doing, such as walking down stairs or opening windows.
- •Walking down stairs
- •Opening windows
- •Wandering outside
- •Not aware of surroundings
🛡️How to Keep a Sleepwalker Safe
Sleepwalking isn't dangerous by itself. But it's important to take precautions so that your sleepwalking child is less likely to fall down, run into something, walk out the front door, or drive (if your teen is a sleepwalker).
Immediate Safety Measures:
- •Try not to wake a sleepwalker because this might scare your child. Instead, gently guide them back to bed.
- •Lock the windows and doors in your child's bedroom and throughout your home
- •Consider extra locks or child safety locks on doors
- •Keep keys out of reach for kids who are old enough to drive
Environmental Safety:
- •To prevent falls, don't let your sleepwalker sleep in a bunk bed
- •Remove sharp or breakable things from around your child's bed
- •Keep dangerous objects out of reach
- •Remove obstacles from your child's room and throughout your home
- •Install safety gates outside your child's room and/or at the top of any stairs
🏥When Should I Call the Doctor?
There's usually no need to treat sleepwalking unless the episodes are very regular, cause your child to be sleepy during the day, or involve dangerous behaviors.
When to Seek Treatment:
- •Episodes are very regular
- •Cause your child to be sleepy during the day
- •Involve dangerous behaviors
- •Happens often and causes problems
- •Child hasn't outgrown it by the early teen years
Treatment Options:
For kids who sleepwalk often, doctors may recommend a treatment called scheduled awakening. This means gently waking the child a little before their usual sleepwalking time, which can help stop sleepwalking.
- •Scheduled awakening (gentle wake before usual time)
- •Rarely, doctors may prescribe medicine to aid sleep
- •Address underlying causes (stress, sleep deprivation)
💡Prevention Tips
To help prevent sleepwalking episodes, follow these strategies:
Bedtime Routine:
- •Have your child relax at bedtime by listening to soft music or relaxation tapes
- •Establish a regular sleep and nap schedule and stick to it
- •Make your child's bedtime earlier to improve excessive sleepiness
- •Don't let kids drink a lot in the evening
Environment & Lifestyle:
- •Be sure they go to the bathroom before going to bed (full bladder can contribute to sleepwalking)
- •Avoid caffeine near bedtime
- •Make sure your child's bedroom is quiet, cozy, and comfortable for sleeping
- •Keep the noise down while kids are trying to sleep
Remember:
The next time you see your nighttime wanderer, don't panic. Just steer your child back to the safety and comfort of their bed. Most children outgrow sleepwalking by their teen years, and with proper safety measures, it doesn't need to be a cause for major concern.
❓Frequently Asked Questions About Sleepwalking
What is sleepwalking and how common is it in children?
Sleepwalking (also called somnambulism) is very common in kids. Most kids who walk in their sleep do so only occasionally and outgrow it by the teen years. Kids tend to sleepwalk within an hour or two of falling asleep and may walk around for anywhere from a few seconds to 30 minutes. It's hard to wake a sleepwalker, and when awakened, they might feel groggy and disoriented for a few minutes.
What behaviors might I see in my sleepwalking child?
Despite its name, sleepwalking involves more than just walking. Behaviors can be harmless (like sitting up), potentially dangerous (such as wandering outside), or inappropriate (like opening a closet door and peeing inside). Children may also talk in their sleep, be hard to wake up, seem dazed, be clumsy, not respond when spoken to, or sit up in bed and go through repeated motions like rubbing their eyes or fussing with their pajamas.
What causes sleepwalking in children?
Sleepwalking is far more common in kids than in adults and may run in families. Things that may bring on a sleepwalking episode include lack of sleep or being very tired, irregular sleep schedules, illness or fever, some medicines, and stress. Sometimes, sleep apnea, bedwetting, or night terrors may happen with sleepwalking.
Is sleepwalking harmful to my child?
Sleepwalking itself is not harmful and usually isn't a sign that a child has an emotional or psychological issue. It doesn't cause any emotional harm, and sleepwalkers probably won't even remember the nighttime stroll. However, sleepwalking can be hazardous because sleepwalking kids aren't awake and may not realize what they're doing, such as walking down stairs or opening windows.
How can I keep my sleepwalking child safe?
Try not to wake a sleepwalker because this might scare your child. Instead, gently guide them back to bed. Lock windows and doors throughout your home, don't let your sleepwalker sleep in a bunk bed, remove sharp or breakable things from around your child's bed, keep dangerous objects out of reach, remove obstacles from your child's room, and install safety gates outside your child's room and/or at the top of any stairs.
When should I be concerned about my child's sleepwalking?
There's usually no need to treat sleepwalking unless the episodes are very regular, cause your child to be sleepy during the day, or involve dangerous behaviors. If the sleepwalking happens often, causes problems, or your child hasn't outgrown it by the early teen years, talk to your doctor.
What treatments are available for sleepwalking?
For kids who sleepwalk often, doctors may recommend a treatment called scheduled awakening. This means gently waking the child a little before their usual sleepwalking time, which can help stop sleepwalking. Rarely, doctors may prescribe medicine to aid sleep. Most importantly, addressing underlying causes like stress and sleep deprivation can help prevent episodes.
How can I prevent sleepwalking episodes?
To help prevent sleepwalking episodes: have your child relax at bedtime by listening to soft music or relaxation tapes, establish a regular sleep and nap schedule, make your child's bedtime earlier, don't let kids drink a lot in the evening and be sure they go to the bathroom before going to bed, avoid caffeine near bedtime, and make sure your child's bedroom is quiet, cozy, and comfortable for sleeping.
Should I wake up my child if I find them sleepwalking?
No, try not to wake a sleepwalker because this might scare your child. Instead, gently guide them back to bed. Sleepwalkers' eyes are open, but they don't see the same way they do when they're awake, and they often think they're in different rooms of the house or different places altogether. After sleepwalking episodes, they probably won't remember ever having done it.
Will my child outgrow sleepwalking?
Yes, most kids who walk in their sleep do so only occasionally and outgrow it by the teen years. Sleepwalking is far more common in kids than in adults. If your child hasn't outgrown it by the early teen years, or if the episodes are very regular, cause daytime sleepiness, or involve dangerous behaviors, talk to your doctor for evaluation and potential treatment options.