Clinical Reference Systems: Pediatric Advisor 10.0
Spanish version
Night Terrors
Description
- Your child is agitated and restless but cannot be
awakened or comforted.
- Your child may sit up or run helplessly about, possibly
screaming or talking wildly.
- Although your child appears to be anxious, he doesn't
mention any specific fears.
- Your child doesn't appear to realize that you are there.
Although your child's eyes are wide open and staring, he
looks right through you.
- The episode begins 1 to 2 hours after going to sleep.
- Your child may mistake objects or persons in the room for
dangers.
- The episode lasts from 10 to 30 minutes.
- Your child cannot remember the episode in the morning
(amnesia).
- The child is usually 1 to 8 years old.
Cause
Night terrors are an inherited disorder in which a child
tends to have dreams during deep sleep from which it is
difficult to awaken. They occur in 2 percent of children
and usually are not caused by psychological stress. Getting
overtired can trigger night terrors.
Expected Course
Night terrors usually occur within 2 hours of bedtime.
Night terrors are harmless and each episode will end of its
own accord in deep sleep. The problem usually disappears by
age 12 or sooner.
Dealing with Night Terrors
- Try to help your child return to normal sleep.
Your goal is to help your child go from agitated sleep
to a calm sleep. You won't be able to awaken your
child, so don't try to. Turn on the lights so that your
child is less confused by shadows. Make soothing
comments such as, "You are all right. You are home in
your own bed. You can rest now." Speak calmly and
repetitively. Such comments are usually better than
silence and may help your child refocus. Some children
like to have their hand held during this time, but most
will pull away. Hold your child only if it seems to
help your child feel better.
There is no way to abruptly shorten the episode.
Shaking or shouting at your child will just cause the
child to become more agitated and will prolong the
attack.
- Protect your child against injury.
During a night terror, a child can fall down a stairway,
run into a wall, or break a window. Try to gently
direct your child back to bed.
- Prepare baby sitters or overnight leaders for these
episodes.
Explain to people who care for your child what a night
terror is and what to do if one happens. Understanding
this will prevent them from overreacting if your child
has a night terror.
Prevention of Night Terrors
- Keep your child from becoming overtired.
Sleep deprivation is the most common trigger for night
terrors. For preschoolers, restore the afternoon nap.
If your child refuses the nap, encourage a one-hour
"quiet time." Also avoid late bedtimes because they may
trigger a night terror. If your child needs to be
awakened in the morning, that means he needs an earlier
bedtime. Move lights out time to 15 minutes earlier
each night until your child can self-awaken in the
morning.
- Use prompted awakenings for frequent night terrors.
If your child has frequent night terrors, Dr. B. Lask
of London has found a new way to eliminate this
distressing sleep pattern in 90 percent of children.
For several nights, note how many minutes elapse from
the time your child falls asleep to the onset of the
night terror. Then begin awakening your child every
night 15 minutes before the expected time of the night
terror. Remind your child to "wake up fast." Keep your
child fully awake and out of bed for 5 minutes.
Continue these prompted awakenings for seven consecutive
nights. If the night terrors return when you stop
awakening your child, repeat this seven-night training
program.
Call Your Child's Physician During Office Hours If:
- Any drooling, jerking, or stiffening occurs.
- The episodes occur two or more times per week after the
seven prompted awakenings.
- Episodes last longer than 30 minutes.
- Your child does something dangerous during an episode.
- Episodes occur during the second half of the night.
- Your child has several daytime fears.
- You feel family stress may be a factor.
- You have other questions or concerns.
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