What Are Night Terrors in Toddlers? Signs, Causes & Tips
If your little one suddenly wakes up in the night screaming, looking confused, and can't be calmed down, it might not be a simple bad dream. Instead, it could be a night terror - a sleep disturbance that seems dramatic but usually isn't as bad as it looks.
Key Takeaways:
Want to know more about how to spot the signs, what's behind them, and practical tips to help? Keep reading for expert advice and tips you can actually use.
What Are Night Terrors?
Night terrors are a form of parasomnia — that's just a fancy name for things that disturb your child's sleep, like sleepwalking or talking in their sleep. They're not that common, but they're most often seen in toddlers or kids just starting school.
Night terrors mean your child suddenly gets really scared, cries, screams, or moves about wildly in bed. Even though they might look wide awake and frightened, they're actually not fully conscious. And unlike with nightmares, they probably won't remember a thing the next day.
Watching your child go through a night terror can be really unnerving, but honestly, it isn't nearly as harmful as it appears. The good news is, when it's all over, your child will usually just drift back off as if nothing happened and have no memory of it at all.
Night terrors are rare and generally not a cause for concern.
What Causes Night Terrors?
Unlike nightmares, night terrors in toddlers aren’t typically associated with emotional feelings or stress. Rather, night terrors can happen for a few different reasons and typically occur during non-dreaming sleep stage; they often take place within 90 minutes of falling asleep and may last up to 15 minutes.
According to experts, these are some factors that could increase the likelihood of a night terror occurring:
Sleep Stages and Cycles
During sleep, children as well as adults go through several sleep cycles composed of different stages. In most of the cycles, a child is switching back and forth between non-REM sleep and REM sleep, which is when active dreaming occurs.
The ratio of non-REM to REM sleep will vary over the course of the night. The first stage of REM sleep is short but will get longer as the night progresses, while non-REM sleep stages will get progressively shorter.
Are Night Terrors in Toddlers a Sign of Mental Illness?
Night terrors in toddlers are generally not a signal of mental illness. Children often outgrow them, and they’re pretty rare overall. Although night terrors can look dramatic, they generally aren't harmful and don't mean there are any long-term emotional issues.
If your child’s behaviour or sleep worries you, or something just doesn’t seem right, it's always best to get advice from a healthcare professional.
Treatment may be needed if night terrors:
Watching how your little one grows and develops is an important part of parenthood. Keep track of their progress with our Baby Development Milestones.
Signs and Symptoms of Night Terrors in Babies and Toddlers
It's totally normal to wonder, 'What do night terrors look like'? so you can better identify them and get to grips with your child's sleep patterns. Seeing a night terror for the first time can be pretty shocking. They usually start out of nowhere, and although they look intense, your little one's not really awake and won't remember any of it.
If your child is having a night terror, you might notice some common signs and symptoms. For example, your toddler might:
If you’re sleeping in separate rooms or happen to be a deep sleeper, you may not even notice that your child is having a night terror, unless you’re woken by the sounds of screaming or thrashing around.
At What Age Can Night Terrors Occur?
Night terrors are especially common in children between the ages of 3 and 8 years old, when children are still learning their own sleep rhythms. Children often outgrow them by mid to late teens.
Of course, every child is unique. Some might only go through a couple of episodes, while others may have them for a little while in bursts. If you're not sure what’s going on or if night terrors are concerning you, contact your child's GP.
The Difference Between a Night Terror and a Nightmare
If you want to know how night terrors and nightmares stack up, check out this table below:
Remedies for Night Terrors in Toddlers
Night terrors can be upsetting for you as the parent, so it’s natural to seek treatment. However, the best way to handle an episode is to simply wait it out and make sure your little one doesn’t hurt themself if thrashing around.
Avoid waking your child up from a night terror. If your child does wake up, they may be confused and take longer to settle down and fall asleep again. Children usually fall asleep on their own after night terrors and won’t have any memory of the episode at all.
Although there is no treatment for night terrors, here are a few things that might help prevent some of them:
When to See Your Child’s GP
Most night terrors don’t need any special treatment, but every so often, it’s worth having a word with your child's GP.
You should get in touch if:
FAQs at a Glance
A night terror is a type of sleep problem called parasomnia. Your child might scream, cry, or sit up suddenly, but isn't actually awake. Experts say don't try to wake them up - they'll settle quickly and usually won't remember anything after.
The Bottom Line
Night terrors in toddlers can be scary for you, and you might feel helpless and worried about what’s happening to your child. The good news is that these sleep disturbances are harmless and your little one will eventually grow out of them.
Unlike nightmares or bad dreams, which can leave your child feeling anxious or scared, kids don’t remember night terrors once they wake up. During an episode, don’t try to wake your child; they’ll settle down and fall back to sleep on their own.
Creating a calming bedtime routine and ensuring your child isn’t overtired could help prevent some episodes. If you’re worried about regular night terrors, you can always consult your doctor for advice, just to be on the safe side.
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