Children may wake up or not sleep well during the night for different reasons. Nightmares , night terrors, sleepwalking and sleep talking, for example, are common sleep problems among kids. Here are some tips to keep in mind when they happen.
Nightmares
Nightmares are scary dreams that often happen during the second half of the night when dreaming is most intense. Children may start having nightmares as young as 6 months of age. They tend to peak between 3 and 12 years old. Children may wake up crying or feeling afraid and may have trouble falling back to sleep. If your child has a bad dream, the best response is to comfort them.
What you can do
Go to your child as quickly as you can.
Assure them that you are there and will not let anything harm them.
Encourage them to tell you what happened in the dream. Remind them that dreams are not real.
Allow them to keep a light on if it makes them feel better.
Once your child is ready, encourage them to go back to sleep.
See if there is something that is scaring your child, like shadows. If so, make sure they are gone.
Night terrors
Night terrors occur most often in toddlers and preschoolers. They take place during the deepest stages of sleep. Deepest sleep is usually early in the night, often before parents' bedtime.
During a night terror, your child might:
Cry uncontrollably
Sweat, shake or breathe fast
Have a terrified, confused or glassy-eyed look
Thrash around, scream, kick or stare
Not recognize you or realize you are there
Try to push you away, especially if you try to hold them
While night terrors can last as long as 45 minutes, most are much shorter. Most children fall right back to sleep after a night terror because they actually have not been awake. Unlike a nightmare, a child will not remember a night terror.
What you can do
Stay calm. Children are unaware of ever having a night terror because they are asleep, so there is no effect on children, only parents.
Make sure your child cannot hurt themself. If they try to get out of bed, gently restrain them.
Remember, after a short time your child will probably relax and sleep quietly again. If your child has night terrors, be sure to tell
babysitters what they are and what to do. If night terrors keep happening, talk with your child's doctor.
Sleepwalking & sleep talking
Like night terrors, sleepwalking and sleep talking happen when children are in a deep sleep. While sleepwalking, children may have a blank stare. They may not respond to others, and it may be very difficult to wake them up. Most sleepwalkers return to bed on their own and do not remember getting out of bed. Sleepwalking tends to run in families. It can even occur several times in one night among older children and teens.
What you can do
Make sure children don't hurt themselves while sleepwalking. Clear the bedroom of things children could trip or fall on.
Lock outside doors so children cannot leave the house.
Block stairways so children cannot go up or down.
Do not try to wake children when they are sleepwalking or sleep talking. Gently lead them back to bed, and they will probably settle down on their own.
Remember
If you have any questions or concerns about your child's sleep habits, don't hesitate to talk with your pediatrician.
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