Today I’m continuing our series about sleep. Check out the start of the series Catching the Illusive Z, and part 1 of kids and sleep with my post about nightmares Helping Jr. Catch Zzzz.
Today for part 2 of kids and sleep I will try to help those parents who have experienced the terrifying shrill cry of a child with a night terror. First off let’s review what night terrors are.
What: Night terrors are quite different then nightmares, in a night terror a child will usually cry out, screaming in panic. When you get to them they will be breathing fast and maybe even sweating. Their eyes will be open and their pupils may be dilated, (black of their eyes is larger than normal) and their hearts might be racing. They might stay in bed, or they might start sleep walking in their panic. Even while screaming and in an apparent panic the child is usually still asleep. Yes they will be asleep while you will be startled wide awake!
When: Nightmares occur during the REM stage of sleep when dreams are active, on the other hand Night Terrors occur during stage 4 sleep. This is the deepest sleep and will occur after 90 minutes of sleep and again at 2 or 2 1/2 hours of sleep.
Why: The exact causes of night terrors are unknown, but there are several factors that can contribute.
§ Stress
§ Being over tired
§ Change in routine or sleep schedule
§ Eating too much before bed
§ Some medications
None of these factors will actually cause the night terror but they seem to add to the likelihood of one occurring.
What to do: If your child has a night terror the first thing to remember is that they are still asleep and will most likely not even remember this event the next morning. Yes they just screamed out in panic but they are perfectly fine. If they have stopped the panic by the time you get to them, then just let them continue sleeping and focus on reducing your own heart rate to help you get back to sleep too.
If, on the other hand they are still screaming or panicked when you get to their bedside you have several options.
§ It is perfectly safe to wake someone having a night terror, just be gentle.
§ Don’t scream or yell at them, it will only serve to increase the panic even if you wake them in the process.
§ If they let you, you can just give them a hug and hold them for a moment while they settle, even without waking them if possible.
§ Don’t try to force physical contact if they don’t want it.
§ Reassure them everything is OK and agree with with what they are saying, even if it doesn’t really make since.
Remember night terrors are much more frightening for you the parent then they are for your child!
What if they continue? An episode of night terrors does not signify anything is wrong with the child! But they can be very disturbing to parents and the rest of the house. If night terrors are just too frequent in your home and you feel you need to do something to stop the pattern then it is time to think about what you can do to prevent them and return peace to your night.
§ Do your best to keep a sleep routine, keeping the same bed time every night
§ Take a closer look at the contributing factors above; is there anything you can do to avoid them?
§ As a last resort some Doctor’s will recommend waking your child exactly 90 minutes after they have fallen asleep. This disruption to their sleep can often prevent the normal sleep cycle from occurring and help them jump right over stage 4 sleep.
For more information check out this great site on Night Terrors.
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