I remember the first time one of my kids woke up from a night terror. Not only was it scary for her, but it was scary for me, and I couldn’t fall asleep until I did some research.
At first, I thought she was having a nightmare but this was different. I felt it in my mom gut. My daughter awoke crying and screaming and was trying to get out of bed. When I went in her bedroom to comfort her, it was as if she was trying to escape. Her language was audible but she didn’t realize it was me with her at first. Her eyes were open but she wasn’t awake. It almost seemed like she was in a trance, for lack of a better word.
I know it was scary for her and it was extremely disheartening for me as well. After all, no one wants their child to have a nightmare, let alone terrorizing sleep.
The odd thing is, when she has a night terror she never remembers them. I’ll even ask her about how she slept or what she dreamed about and she’ll either say she doesn’t remember or that she had a good dream. Thankfully, in my child’s case, the length of the terror doesn’t last too long and she falls asleep after a comfort session.
What befuddles me is the cause of night terrors in kids isn’t truly known. However, there are some possible explanations. Many doctors say that lack of sleep can be the root cause of night terrors, as being overtired may lead to strange dreams. There are other possible causes but they are not proven.
How do I know my child is having a night terror?
Always check with your doctor first, but here are some of the signs to look out for to determine if your child is having night terrors.
- Your child is scared but struggles to wake up or be comforted.
- His/her eyes are open but he/she struggles to realize you’re right there.
- The episode can last for just a few minutes up to 30 minutes in length.
- Your child has no remembrance in the morning.
How are night terrors different from nightmares?
Nightmares are simply scary dreams that wake kids up and make them afraid to fall back asleep. Usually, nightmares stem from something they’ve seen or heard that upset them. For instance, toddlers may have a nightmare about being separated from their parents. Preschoolers could dream about monsters under the bed. Once the child is in school-aged other dangers may scare them. They can even have nightmares about something scary they saw on television.
The biggest difference between nightmares and night terrors though is that children remember nightmares. They don’t remember night terrors.
How to help your child when they have a night terror
There are a few ways you can help your child while they are having a night terror.
- Comfort your child with a soothing and calm voice. This is key.
- Hold your child in a safe way until the terror is gone.
- Stay with them until they fall back asleep.
Preventative Measures to take to help prevent night terrors.
As I mentioned above, doctors say that night terrors can be caused by lack of sleep. So you want to make sure your child gets the amount of sleep they need. In addition, keeping your children on a strict and consistent bedtime and nap routine will help as well.
How much sleep does your child need?
- On average, newborns and infants need 14-17 hours of sleep. This includes naps.
- Toddlers need around 11-14 hours, including naps.
- Preschoolers need 10-13 hours of sleep a night.
- School-aged children need nine to 12 hours of sleep a night.
- Teenagers need eight to 10 hours of sleep a night.
School-aged children don’t generally take naps anymore. But if your child craves a nap one day, go ahead and let them get in a bit of extra sleep time. Heck, I enjoy naps as an adult!
If your child is having night terrors, just be there for them and help them through as best you can. If they seem really bad, you can always contact your child’s pediatrician and see what they recommend to help.
