What’s Making Your Child Wake Up Screaming? Let’s Talk About Night Terrors In Kids

It’s impossible to be fully prepared for the moment your child screams in their sleep. Naturally, you’d assume it’s nothing more than a bad dream. But you know when it’s different.

You can tell it’s a night terror and not a nightmare by the sound alone. Their cries are loud and sharp, the terror palpable, and calling their name does nothing to rouse them. They’re visibly shaking with wide-open eyes, but their mind seems miles away.

You might be surprised to learn that night terrors aren’t uncommon. And being prepared with the right knowledge makes bedtime much easier. Keep reading to learn all about night terrors in kids and how to make bedtime peaceful again.

Nightmares vs Night Terrors in Kids

It’s important to know that night terrors aren’t merely incredibly strong dreams. It’s more like a temporary disruption in their natural sleep pattern. For whatever reason, their brain can’t quite make it to waking up. Sort of like falling asleep while panicking.

There’s lots of screaming, sweating, and thrashing involved. Sometimes, your child will even pace or talk to themselves in their sleep. What’s so unusual is that they’ll have absolutely no memory of the episode in the morning. Honestly, it’s a deeply unsettling experience for anyone observing.

For children between three and seven years old, experiencing these is a common occurrence. Things like feeling anxious, being completely wiped out, or even just being a little dehydrated can spark them. Sometimes, there’s no specific thing that sets them off. Kids sometimes just have night terrors because their brain is still learning how to sleep deeply.

Why Are We So Scared of Night Terrors?

Being a mom can certainly make you jump to the worst-case scenario. Like there’s something you missed during the day, or your bedtime routine isn’t calm enough. Confusion over what’s going on is the biggest reason why night terrors are so scary.

It’s important to remember that night terrors are usually beyond your control.

Remember when we said night terrors are because your child’s brain is still maturing? Their body becomes fully active before their brain realizes what’s happening. They may be having night terrors due to stress, but odds are it’s completely developmental.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to stop them midway. Here’s what you can do to respond when your child has a night terror:

• Don’t try to wake your child up: This just intensifies the fear. They won’t respond to you anyway.
• Remain calm: Take a deep breath and scoop your child up gently. Talk in a low tone of voice and assure them they’re safe.
• Help them fall back to sleep: When your child has calmed, softly lay them down in their bed again. Even if they don’t fall asleep right away.

It’s not fun watching your child scream themselves awake night after night. It’s good to remember you’re not the only parent facing this, and there are indeed ways to stop night terrors as they get older.

What Brings on Night Terrors?

They could easily be linked to something ordinary. Or, quite possibly, a combination of several things at once.

Here are some common reasons why kids experience night terrors:

• Overtiredness – Naps skipped? Bedtime too late? When these things happen, they can disturb your child’s sleep cycle and bring about ill effects.
• Stress or new change – Big life changes like beginning school, relocating, or welcoming a new sibling can stir up some anxiety.
• Sleep environment – Sunlight, noises, and other stimulation before bed can cause your child’s brain to overreact at night.

• Screen time – Scary movies or video games before bed are exciting and stressful for your child’s body.

It’s not necessary to completely alter your daily schedule immediately. Just keep an eye on what happens around bedtime when these episodes start.

How to Quickly Settle Nightmares and Night Terrors for Good

Thankfully, there’s no need to buy fancy sleep trackers or try to crack some magic new routine. The key is to be consistent and keep your cool.

Start with these tips:

• Stick to the same bedtime: Make sure your child’s sleep times are as consistent as possible. Kids are creatures of habit, and routine tells their brains that it’s time to settle down.
• Bedtime routine: Make sure your child winds down nicely before bedtime. Low lights, whispers, maybe a prayer or bedtime story.
• Say no to sugar and caffeine: What’s surprising is that some snacks and drinks are loaded with unadvertised caffeine and sugar. Pass on them before bed.
• Dark, cool rooms: Make sure your child has a comfortable blanket, and the room temperature doesn’t change.
• Address daytime stressors: Give your child a chance to talk about their day as bedtime approaches. Sometimes big emotions can explode at night.

Teaching your child’s body to embrace nighttime calmness is key to stopping night terrors. That said, the occurrence of nightmares and night terrors has also been associated with anxiety and other sleep disorders.

It’s time to get in touch with a professional if your child has more than one night terror each week, if they’re going on for more than ten minutes, or if you’re seeing a change in their mood. A counselor can work with you to see if something else is going on underneath the surface.

You can find therapists who focus on guiding families through sleep difficulties on this site. With their assistance, you can gain clarity on the situation and restore a sense of peace in your home.

Contact us today and speak to a representative.