Parents often think their child is having a nightmare when they’re experiencing a night terror. 40% of children will be affected by a night terror, most commonly seen in children ages 3-7. It can look like a child is awake and fearful because they’ll abruptly sit up, scream, kick, cry, and/or thrash around. Sometimes the events can lead to sleepwalking.

But the child is still asleep. These episodes often occur within an hour of falling asleep or the first half of the night. A night terror is a parasomnia-an abnormal occurrence during sleep. The good news is the child isn’t afraid and won’t even remember the episode in the morning.

Generally, night terrors aren’t dangerous unless your child is in harm’s way while sleepwalking or if thrashing, or in the case that an underlying medical condition is causing night terrors. They just look scary to caregivers watching them happen.

So what causes these episodes? As mentioned it can result from a fever or underlying medical condition, but usually, they’re triggered by stress and/or late, inconsistent bedtimes, or a disruption to their sleep schedule. That means most cases are preventable! Though, it’s always best to talk with your child’s doctor to investigate possible underlying medical causes or possible stressors that could be contributing if the episodes are ongoing.

Help prevent night terrors by putting your child to bed early and at the same time every night. If bedtime will be pushed later for an unavoidable reason, give opportunities for plenty of daytime rest to prevent over-tiredness. Do not try to wake your child during an episode, just speak calmly and encourage them to continue sleeping.

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