Night terrors occur during deep sleep and are most common in children aged three to eight. Children may scream, cry, and fight but won’t fully awake or remember the event. Reducing stressors, having a calming bedtime routine, and avoiding external stimuli can help reduce night terrors. Older children and adults who experience nightmares should see a doctor.
Night terrors are a very different type of dream than the typical nightmare. They occur most commonly in children between the ages of three and eight, although this is not always the case. Older children can experience night terrors, and some adults can suffer from them too.
Night terrors occur during deep sleep. Babies may scream, cry, shout or fight with their parents. Babies will not fully awake, may not recognize their parents, and are usually inconsolable. They do not respond to logic and, even when their eyes are open, they are not fully conscious. They also won’t remember what caused the terror and likely won’t remember any part of the resulting attack occurring.
When a child suffers from nightmares, caregivers cannot fix the problem. The only option available is to hold the babies softly and try to protect them from harm. Physical reactions to night terrors can be very violent. Keep beds well away from windows or hard furniture that could injure children during night terrors. Although this behavior is very alarming, parents will only make the situation worse if they yell at the child or try to shake him awake.
In most cases, reducing stressors in the home, having a predictable bedtime routine that is calming, and letting the room be softly lit can reduce the incidence of night terrors. Children living in shared custody may have more difficulty with a predictable bedtime routine. Parents who share custody should work together to ensure that the child sleeps in the same bed every night as much as possible.
External stimuli in the hours before bedtime can also cause more night terrors. Children’s rooms should not have televisions, and children should not watch television for at least an hour and a half before bedtime, as it is too stimulating. Instead, offer to read a calming book to your child, or give your child a warm bath each night, which is soothing and helps make him more sleepy.
Though less common, older children may have nightmares. These may still disappear before adolescence or may continue into adulthood. Again, these episodes won’t be nightmares because you can’t comfort or fully wake the person with night terrors. Furthermore, there are no memories of these events.
One problem with older children and adults who experience nightmares is that violent physical reactions can significantly harm both caregivers and adult partners. Adults and older children are much stronger and their behavior during a night terror is usually completely out of control. Attempts to control behavior can do more harm than good.
Children who experience nightmares after the age of eight should probably see a doctor. Sleep studies can confirm brain activity during night terrors. Parents should also notify a pediatrician if children younger than eight have frequent nightmares. Occasionally, noting a child’s activities during the day can help a parent discern the patterns that produce or reduce night terrors.
Adults who continue to experience nightmares should definitely see a doctor, who may be able to help them through a combination of therapy and behavioral adjustments.
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