Night Terrors

What are night terrors?
Night terrors are rare and occur in about 2% of children.
It usually begins about a couple of hours after the child has gone to sleep.
Typically, it lasts about 10 – 30 minutes.
During the episode, the child may be restless or agitated, but not awakened or comforted. The child is usually confused.
The child usually confuses or mistakes objects or persons in the room and environment for dangers.

How long do they last?
Night terrors are known to occur within 2 hours of bedtime.
They are usually harmless, and each episode will end of its own accord in deep sleep. The problem usually disappears by the time the child turns twelve years of age or even earlier.

How can I help my child?
Try to help your child return to normal sleep.
Help your child go from agitated sleep to a calm sleep.
You won’t be able to awaken your child.
Do not try to awaken your child, because attempts to do so may even agitate your child more.
Turn on lights so that your child is less confused by shadows.
Try to comfort your child with soothing comments.
Some children like to have their hand held during this time. However, most will pull away. Hold your child only if it seems to help.
There is no way to abruptly shorten the episode.
Shaking or shouting at your child will worsen the child’s agitation and prolong the attack.
Protect your child against injury.
During a night terror, a child may fall down the steps, run into the wall, or break items in the room.
Try to gently direct your child back to bed.
Prepare babysitters for these episodes by proper education.
Explain to people who care for your child what a night terror is and what to do when one occurs.

How can I help prevent night terrors?
Keep your child from becoming over-tired.
Sleep deprivation is the most common trigger for night terrors.
For preschoolers, use prompted awakenings for frequent night terrors. If your child has frequent night terrors and is over age 6, you can try using the method of waking your child up before the night terror occurs.
This method helps eliminate the problem in about 90% of children.
For several nights, note how many minutes elapse from the time your child falls asleep to the onset of the night terror. Then, begin awakening your child every night 15 minutes before the time of the expected night terror.
Remind your child to wake up fast.
Keep your child fully awake and out of bed for 5 minutes.
Continue these prolonged awakenings for seven nights in a row.
If the night terrors return when you stop awakening your child, repeat this seven night training program.

When should I call my child’s healthcare provider?
• If any drooling, jerking or stiffening is noticed.
• If the episodes occur two or more times in a week after the seven prompted awakenings. If the episodes last longer than thirty minutes.
• If dangerous activities are noticed during the episode.
• If episodes occur during the second half of the night.
• If your child has several daytime fears or feel family stress may be a factor.