Guide to managing night terrors in children
Night terror, sleep terror, night terror, sleep terror, etc. There are many names for this condition. However, the most correct term is night terror, in Danish sleep terror or in Latin, pavor nocturnus.
If you find that your child often wakes up crying, scared, inconsolable and confused, it may be because he or she suffers from the sleep disorder night terrors.
In this guide, we will review the symptoms of this sleep disorder, provide input on what you as parents can do, whether the condition is dangerous, how prevalent the sleep disorder is, and much more.
What is night terrors?
Night terrors are a sleep disorder that affects between 1 and 6.5% of of children suffer to some degree throughout early childhood.
Night terrors are characterized by the child waking up for approximately 60-90 minutes. after falling asleep and appears confused, disoriented and inconsolable, but the child cannot be contacted.
These attacks will typically last 10-30 minutes. , after which your child will return to sleep. In most cases, the child will not be able to remember what happened, but it can be a traumatic experience for you as a parent.
What causes night terrors?
Night terrors are most common among children, as the child's brain is not fully developed and therefore may have difficulty controlling , which parts of the brain need to be awakened.
With night terrors, the body is on, so to speak, while consciousness is off, which is why night terrors occur. The condition typically occurs between two sleep stages, so it is very common for your child to wake up and be inconsolable at the same time every night – usually 60-90 minutes after falling asleep.
Night terrors are not caused by poor well-being in the child or bad cuddling habits.
Which children are affected by night terrors?
Sleep terrors can occur in all children from the age of 1 and can last up to the age of 12. However, it is most common between the ages of 5-7. The youngest children with sleep terrors typically have one attack of night terror per week, while older children have 1-2 attacks per month . In slightly more rare cases, adults can also suffer from night terrors.
The condition is most prevalent among boys .
Is night terror hereditary?
Yes, a child is at greater risk of suffering from the sleep disorder night terrors if one or both parents had it in childhood.
Symptoms of night terrors
Many children, especially younger children, have trouble falling asleep and often wake up many times during the night. However, there is a difference between restless sleep and night terrors. It is also important to distinguish between night terrors and nightmares.
The symptoms of sleep terrors in a child are many and include the following:
- Waking up suddenly and typically at the same time every night
- Screaming loudly
- May appear uncomfortable and confused
- Has eyes open, but is not contactable
- Does not remember the incident the next day
- Have high pulse and palpitations
- Is difficult to calm down
- ... and other symptoms
Is night terror dangerous?
No, although the words night terror and sleep terror may seem violent, it is important to emphasize that night terror is harmless. .
As mentioned earlier, remember that your child will usually not remember the incident the next day. This means that the experience is often the most difficult for you as a parent, who has to experience your child being inconsolable. It can be an emotional challenge for you to deal with this situation, as you may feel powerless and worried about your son or daughter's well-being. However, there is generally no need to worry.
What can we as parents do for our child with night terrors?
Night terrors are harmless, but they can still be emotionally difficult for you as a parent to experience. But what can you do for your child with sleep terrors?
An effective solution that can prevent night terrors in 50% of children , is to wake the child 15-30 minutes before the seizures usually occur.
You should also make sure that the child's bed and room are arranged in a way that prevents him or her from being injured during a night terror.
You should also try to calm him or her when the seizures occur - preferably without picking up the child or turning on the light.
Seek medical attention if you suspect an underlying illness.
Night terrors are a sleep disorder that is usually not dangerous, but it is always a good idea to seek medical attention if you suspect there may be an underlying condition, such as epilepsy. It is important to get a professional evaluation to make sure there is nothing wrong with your little nugget.
