Night terror is an issue that affects at least 5% of children, and most people have no idea what it is or firmly believe it is the same as nightmares. Studies show that night terrors generally start from the child’s first year of life and usually happen until the age of seven, with most cases occurring in boys. The majority of cases happen between three and seven years old, and the cause is still unknown.
During a night terror, the child has moments of panic during sleep, behaving and reacting as if they were in real danger—not only from their agitation, but also from their facial expression during the event. It’s common for the child to scream, cry, move around, and sometimes even get up with their eyes open, but they are completely unaware of what is happening, being in a total trance, and will not remember anything about the incident upon waking the next day. Night terrors are usually accompanied by high fever, lack of sleep, excessive tiredness, times of stress, and often during family or school conflicts.
What to Do During a Night Terror?
It is natural for parents to want to call or wake the child and make them see that nothing bad is really happening. However, specialists say it doesn’t help at all because the child will go back to sleep normally in minutes and will not be aware of what happened. The best thing parents can do is stay close to prevent accidents since the child may act aggressively or move around a lot.
Is it possible to prevent night terrors?
Yes, ideally the child should be as well rested as possible. Delayed sleep can trigger night terrors, so it’s best for the child to take naps in the afternoon so that at night they are more relaxed. Another way to calm the child before bedtime is to use chamomile tea, a good fairy tale, and help the child fall asleep as peacefully as possible.
What is the difference between night terror and a nightmare?
Nightmares occur during sleep, but when the child wakes up, they are aware of what they dreamed and their fear surfaces upon awakening. Many are afraid to fall asleep again because of nightmares. Night terrors also happen during sleep, but the child has no awareness whatsoever of their actions or their dreams on waking. Studies show that night terrors can be genetic, inherited from parents who likely had the same issue or sleepwalking during childhood. If any difficulties or impairment in the child’s daily development are noticed, seeing a specialist is recommended.
See also: Your baby’s naps – 6 Important Things Every Mother Should Know
Photo: Amanda Truss
