How To Know If Your Child is Having a Night Terror

Waking up to a child's uncontrollable crying and screaming can be terrifying. Night terrors are experienced more by boys than girls (in rare cases, girls or adults will have them), and have a tendency to run in families (as do other sleep disorders). Sleep terrors are quite common in toddlers and young children.

One way to differentiate between night terrors and nightmares is that nightmares happen in the early stages of sleep, while night terrors happen at late stages of sleep. The child that usually exhibits fear when awakening, and acts strangely, is probably having a night terror episode.

Usually something in the child's environment is setting him off. Find out what is causing the episodes, so you can help your child have a restful sleep. Talk to the family doctor so he can help you to help your child.

1. What is a sleep disorder? A sleep disorder is a disruption in your pattern of sleep. You can have problems staying asleep or falling asleep for very long. Many times a sleep disorder is hereditary.
2. What is a night terror? A distraught child wakens up at night terrified at something unknown. They experience sheer terror and cannot even tell you what they are afraid of. Sometimes, parents will find a child who awakes in tears and feels frantic. If this happens too often, consult the doctor.
3. What causes night terrors? Interruption in the sleep pattern causes night terrors. In rapid eye movement sleep (REM), children do not appear awake; there is a link between stress and lack of sleep. Home, family and school problems that are creating stress can be to blame, too.
4. Know the signs:
   • Sudden bouts of apparent awakening. (The child appears awake but is in deep sleep.)
   • Overwhelming fear, terror or strange behavior occurring at night.
   • Rapid heartbeat.
   • Screaming or crying.
   • Confusion.
   • Sweating.
   • No memory of the event.
   • Inability to fully awaken.
   • Irritable and difficult to soothe back to sleep.
5. Treatments Available. Comfort your child and let him know that there is nothing to fear. Get into a regular bedtime ritual. Sometimes, Benadryl has been successful in reducing night terrors. Most children will outgrow night terrors. Try not to make very many changes in your routine. Try to reduce stress as much as possible, and find out what is bothering the child. Keep things quiet and peaceful, especially close to bedtime.