Night Terrors or Sleep Terrors

What are night terrors? Are they just bad nightmares?

Night terrors are episodes of intense screaming, crying, thrashing, or fear during sleep that happen again and again, usually in children ages 3 to 12. Sleep terrors, or night terrors, often are paired with sleepwalking.

During a night terror, a child might

Sit up in bed
Flail around in bed
Scream
Look awake but confused or frightened
Appear flushed and sweaty
Be sweating, breathing fast and have a racing heart
Seem like they don’t know that a parent is there
Not talk coherently
Not respond when a parent tries to comfort them

Night terrors are different from typical nightmares, which happen during rapid eye movement or dream sleep. If your child is having a night terror episode, you might have a more difficult time waking them. Unlike nightmares, children usually do not recall the night terror episode the next morning. The dreamer of a nightmare wakes up from the dream and may remember details, but a person who has a sleep terror episode remains asleep.

What causes night terrors?

Most of the time, there are no specific causes for night terrors. But the following might play a role, such as:

Genetic factors
Stress
Anxiety
Fever
Lack of sleep
Too much caffeine
Sleeping in an unfamiliar place, away from home
Medications that affect the central nervous system (the brain), recent anaesthesia
Restless legs syndrome
Sleep problems like obstructive sleep apnoea

How can I prevent my child from having night terrors? Are they harmful?

Get rid of anything that might disturb their sleep, like electronic screens or noises.
Try to lower your child’s stress levels.
Make sure your child gets enough rest and sleep. Don’t let them become too tired or stay up too late.
Create a relaxing bedtime routine and stick to it.
Make your child’s room safe so they aren’t hurt during an episode.
Seek medical advice if your child has snoring, restless sleep or excessive limb movements suggestive of associated sleep disorders

Though night terrors can be alarming for parents, they are not a cause for great concern. Most children outgrow night terrors by their teenage years. Night terrors may require treatment if they are frequent or intense or if they pose a safety risk.