Dealing with sleep terrors

Stress, fatigue likely triggers

Dear Mayo Clinic: My 7-year-old daughter has sleep terrors. What causes this, and when can we expect them to be finished?

A: It’s hard to pinpoint why some children experience sleep terrors and others don’t, but fatigue and stress seem to be frequent triggers. Anyone can have a sleep terror, but they are most common in children younger than 12.

Sleep terrors, also called night terrors, are occasional episodes of screaming and flailing while a person is still asleep. In some cases, sleep terrors may involve sleepwalking. Although the behavior that happens during a sleep terror can put a child at risk for physical harm from falling or hitting something, a sleep terror itself isn’t harmful and doesn’t pose any health risks. Most of the time, children don’t remember having a sleep terror.

Sleep terrors tend to run in families. So if a parent had them as a child, then his or her children are at an increased risk. Sleep terrors are most likely to happen when a child is overtired or feeling a significant amount of stress. Sleeping in new surroundings or in a loud or noisy environment may contribute to sleep terrors. In children, fevers may sometimes trigger a sleep terror.

One of the best steps you can take to help prevent sleep terrors is to make sure your child is well-rested. A regular bedtime routine that is relaxing and doesn’t involve any electronics also can help.

To reduce the risk of a child hurting himself or herself, create a safe bedroom environment. Place sharp, heavy or fragile objects out of your child’s reach at night. Securely lock doors and windows. Put gates across stairways. Children who have sleep terrors shouldn’t sleep on the top level of a bunk bed.

When a sleep terror happens, stay with your child until it is finished. If necessary, gently restrain the child from getting out of bed, or lead the child back to bed. Speak softly and calmly. Don’t try to wake your child.

Shouting or shaking a child could make the episode last longer. In most cases, a sleep terror will stop on its own.

Treatment usually isn’t necessary, but if they disrupt your home, make an appointment with your child’s doctor.