What are night terrors?
Night terrors are dreams during sleep from which it is hard to awaken. Being overtired can trigger night terrors, so be sure your child goes to bed at a reasonable time.
They usually occur within 2 hours of bedtime, and occur most often in children ages 1 to 8 years. Your child cannot be awakened and they do not realize you are there even though their eyes are wide open. The episode usually lasts 10 to 30 minutes and they won't remember it in the morning.
What to do: Make soothing comments, speak slowly and repetitively. Protect your child from injury. Most night terrors occur at the same time every night. Awakening your child 15 minutes prior to the episode and keeping them awake for 5 minutes will often break the cycle of the night terror.
Nightmare or Night Terror
Nightmare Night Terror
A scary dream followed by complete awakening. A partial arousal from very deep sleep.
Occurs in the second half of the night. Usually one to two hours after falling asleep.
After waking is fearful and crying. Sitting up, thrashing, crying. Fear and confusion disappear after awake.
After waking, child is reassured by your presence. Child is not aware of your presence.
May have trouble returning to sleep. Returns to sleep rapidly without fully awakening.
Often remembers the dream and talks about it. No memory of the dream or of yelling or thrashing.