Do not disturb!
Children can suffer from a range of sleep disturbances, from sleepwalking and nightmares to night terrors. These can be frightening not only for the child but for the parents – but the good news is that it’s not an indication of a serious psychological disorder
Sleep disturbances such as sleep walking, nightmares and night terrors are a distinct sleep phenomena and fortunately not an indication of a psychological or emotional disorder. In fact, they are generally related to a maturing neurological system. According to mum of four Lucy Wolfe, who is a paediatric sleep consultant: ‘Any of these presentations can be very unnerving for the observing parents, but typically the child is completely unaffected. Children with abnormal sleeping schedules may be more vulnerable to these sleep disturbances. Beyond the age of two as many as 70 per cent of children will experience a sleep disturbance at some time.’
SLEEPWALKING
In relation to sleepwalking: this can occur up to 12 times per year in around 5 per of children between the ages of six and 16. An additional 5-10 per cent of children may sleep walk once or twice per year. It has been suggested that there is genetic factor also and boys are more likely to experience this sleep concern. Typically, sleepwalking, a partial arousal parasomnia disorder, will occur within the first one to three hours of going to sleep when the brain is entering a slow wave type sleep. Despite the fact that your child appears to be awake, this is often not the case. ‘Each episode may last for up to 20 minutes and mostly parents will be ineffective here until the situation has passed and it is unlikely that your child will remember the next day,’ explains Wolfe.
A large concern with a sleep walker is safety, so it is a good idea to be prepared if your child has demonstrated a vulnerability to this disorder. Your first instinct might be to wake your child up, but in fact you should try not disturb them.
‘Parents should be encouraged not to intervene, as waking your child may potentially upset your child unnecessarily. Gently guide your child back to bed and remain with them until they have settled back to sleep, says Wolfe.’
Another very common sleep disturbance is sleep talking, which is just as common in adults as it is in children. Where children are concerned, they more likely to talk in their sleep because the linguistic centres of the brain are highly stimulated, particularly in the preschool years. ‘From 3-10 years old, almost 50 per cent of children will chat in their sleep at least once a year,’ says Wolfe. ‘Boys may be more inclined to experience this sleep disturbance. It is not unusual for children to shout out simple phrases, “I don’t want to!” or “go away!”, for example. There is no need to worry, it is a normal presentation.’
NIGHTMARES
Nightmares are also a normal part of development and happen during the second part of the night during Rapid Eye Movement better known as REM or dreaming sleep. It is a very common complaint, especially between the ages of three to six, with studies suggesting 25 per cent of children have at least one nightmare per week.
According to Wolfe: ‘A nightmare can be very alarming for a young child and the fear is very real, normally represented by being chased or stuck somewhere. Your child will typically call for you or come into your bedroom looking for reassurance and comfort; that you should provide.’ Try to keep your child away from scary materials. ‘Carefully pick the type of books that are read at bedtime and be mindful of anything that may cause fear and anxiety. Talk to your child about what disturbs them, ideally during the day, and consider a coping mechanism for scary thoughts like a monster spray, a magic wand or shield or a special stuffed toy to keep him or her safe.’
NIGHT TERRORS
Often parents would mistake night terrors for a nightmare. However, the difference between the two can be easily identified and typically night terrors can happen within the first few hours of sleep, during deep non-REM sleep. Wolfe explains: ‘During an episode the child jolts awake from deep sleep, wide eyes, frightened, screaming/shouting and possibly sweating with a racing heart. As this is a partial arousal disorder: your child is not awake, will not recognise you or realise you are there; he or she may push you away while at the same time call for you. Unfortunately, this can last for up to 15 minutes and then end. Your child usually won’t even remember having the night terror. It can be very upsetting for us parents to witness our children so distressed; thankfully, they are not a representative of a psychological disorder.’ ‘Commonly Night terrors will happen within two hours of the onset of sleep, but I have experience in my practice of them happening throughout the night and/or the early part of the morning, but this is extreme and commonly a child who is not efficient at sleeping independently.’ So what is the single biggest cause of night terrors? ‘It is being over-tired. You need to ensure that your child gets enough sleep and this can in some instances diminish significantly and sometimes completely eliminate the phenomenon.’
Even something as very simple can help. As Wolfe suggests: ‘As little as an extra 30 minutes of sleep at the start of the night can make all the difference for a child troubled by night terrors.
If you are in any doubt about your child’s sleep disturbances it is advisable to seek medical advice.
Lucy Wolfe, CGSC, MAPSC, is a paediatric sleep consultant and mum of four young children. She runs a private sleep consulting practice where she provides knowledge, expertise and valuable support to families across the country.