Childhood Night Terrors Shouldnt Worry Parents

Night terrors are not nightmares. They are a fear response during sleep and they tend to run in families like sleep walking and teeth grinding.

Sleep terrors are a sleep disorder that is most common between the ages of 4 and 12. The disorder goes by many names – night terrors, sleep terror disorder, and pavor nocturnus – but sounds much worse than it is. In fact, children rarely remember them. Too bad that isn’t true for their parents!

Sleep Terrors vs. Nightmares

Almost everyone experiences a nightmare at some time or other. They are more common in childhood and are considered developmental, helping children deal with ordinary fears and problems. Nightmares cause emotional responses such as fear, guilt or anxiety that may be felt and remembered upon awakening. 

The most common nightmare involves being chased, according to the International Association for the Study of Dreams, and children may wake up scared, out of breath or even screaming but quickly realize that they were dreaming.

According to the Mayo Clinic article entitled “Night Terrors,” on its website, these incidents occur in the first hours after falling asleep and are characterized by thrashing movements and screaming. 

Parents who witness their child in the midst of a night terror may even believe the child to be awake. Sleepwalking and talking are common, and the child is difficult to awaken or soothe. Once awake, the child rarely remembers anything and will generally go back to sleep without difficulty.

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What Causes Night Terrors?

Night terrors are not dreams. They are a fear response that occurs between stages of sleep. No one knows what causes night terrors, although they seem to run in families. Sleep deprivation, illness and stress may also be triggers. They rarely occur after puberty and are fairly uncommon.

Dealing With Night Terrors

During the night terror, watch out for the child’s safety and gently guide the child back to bed. The child will not awaken easily and shaking the child is not advised. 

Trying to awaken the child will likely just make things worse. Encourage the child to sit as calmly and quietly as possible until it passes. If the child sleep walks during night terrors, take precautions to prevent injury and/or access to the outdoors.

Night terrors are rarely cause for concern and will usually disappear with time. If night terrors are frequent enough to disrupt sleep patterns, follow a recurring pattern, or result in violent behavior, consulting a doctor is advised. Otherwise, no treatment is necessary.