Night terrors are when a child begins screaming or crying at night but cannot be calmed down because he's actually not awake. It is estimated that 5 percent of children experience night terrors between the ages of 2 to 6. Night terrors are different from nightmares because in the morning the child has no recollection that anything has happened. Unfortunately, parents remember it all too vividly.
Behavior During Night Terrors
Researchers believe that night terrors happen when the child’s brain is stuck between deep and light sleep levels. The child may open his eyes for a moment and see something that scares him but is still in deep sleep. He cries or screams but does not wake himself up. Eventually the sleep level changes and the child calms down and falls back into a deep sleep. Since there is no memory of the fright, the child doesn’t experience any harm from the incident.
For parents, however, it is a completely different experience. A parent will rush in to see why the child is screaming and can’t calm him down. A child can be sitting up with his eyes open but is still sound asleep. He does not respond to anything the parent says or does and eventually calms down on his own. In the morning when the parents ask him why he was so upset, the child has no idea what they are talking about. Not being able to help their child who seems to be in distress is stressful to the parent.
Triggers That May Cause Night Terrors
The bad news is that night terrors cannot be cured, but the good news is that researchers have found there are some things that might trigger them. Parents may be able to help their child avoid having night terrors by being aware of the following triggers:
- Stress in the child's life may be causing the onslaught of night terrors. Have there been any major changes in the child's life such as moving to a new home, a new daycare or changing schools? Maybe there is a child in preschool who is teasing the child or a teacher the child doesn't like. Listen carefully to the child when she talks about her day to see if it can be deciphered if stress may be the underlying factor in her night terrors.
- Illness or medications may be the culprit. Having the flu, a cold, an earache or any other type of illness may trigger night terrors. Medications, like antihistamines, can also be a cause. If medication is the problem, ask the child's doctor if the schedule for the medication can be changed so the child isn't taking it at bedtime.
Two Things Parents Can Do
- Have a consistent bedtime so your child gets enough sleep. Young children feel comforted by a bedtime routine and sleep better if it is kept consistent. Children between the ages of 2 to 6 need plenty of sleep, up to 12 hours, in order to feel at their best. Make sure the child is getting plenty of sleep so he isn't overly tired which can cause anxiety and stress.
- Wake the child before the terrors begin. Night terrors generally happen early in the night as opposed to nightmares which occur closer to the morning. If there is a pattern in time when the child has night terrors, wake him up 15 minutes before it occurs and then let him go back to sleep. This may preempt the brain from getting stuck in-between sleep cycles.
One Thing Parent’s Shouldn’t Do
Don’t wake the child during a night terrors episode. It is better to let the child stay asleep during the night terrors instead of waking him up. Stay by his side and make sure he is safe during the episode but let it end on its own. This way he won’t be scared by being awakened when he is so upset.
Night terrors are difficult for parents, but be comforted in the knowledge that the child will not remember them or be affected by them. Eventually the child will outgrow this phase of his life and both parent and child can get back to having a good night’s sleep.
Deanna Lynn Sletten - Deanna Lynn Sletten has been a freelance writer for newspapers, regional magazines and websites for 20 years. She specializes in the ...
