Children often wake after having night terrors or nightmares and need to be calmed. This article explains the difference between the two and offers advice on soothing your child.

You know that feeling of waking up with a pounding heart and a mind grappling to determine what is real and what was just part of whichever horrible scenario it managed to dream up? Was it just a nightmare or was it night terrors?

Imagine how it feels for a little child who doesn’t yet have an understanding of what a dream is.

nightmares

Most parents will wake up at least once in their child’s life to a screaming, crying child who has had a bad dream.

Especially prevalent in children between two and three years of age, nightmares are the result of their imagination running wild, shares sleep consultant Jolandi Becker from Good Night.

When this happens, children want to be comforted. It might take them some time to let go of the scary thoughts and fall back asleep, but the presence of a parent eases the process and offers them comfort.

Movies, videos, books, stories or events can trigger the scary dreams known as nightmares. These bad dreams can also occur during times of change or trauma.

Nightmares are usually infrequent, but it is best to seek assistance from a play therapist if they do become more frequent.

night terrors

Night terrors are quite a different experience for both the little one and the parents.

Although typically occurring between the ages of four and eight years, night terrors have been reported in children as young as 18 months. These happen more frequently at night and more regularly over a specified time.

During a night terror, a child can appear quite anxious and scream for between 5 and 15 minutes. Having a parent present will not comfort the child; even worse, it could frighten the child.

Often, you are unable to wake the child or identify any obvious cause for the screaming. Night terrors are more upsetting for parents than for the child, as children cannot remember them.

Unlike nightmares, night terrors happen during non-REM sleep and are not bad dreams. Fevers, medication and most commonly sleep deprivation are the cause.

tips to deal with night terrors

• First, make sure that your child is safe.
• Don’t try to calm your child; just be there and wait it out. Trying to contain them could prolong the night terror.
• Don’t speak or ask them about it the next day. This can make them afraid and worried, as they are not aware it is happening.
• Implement a set bedtime routine that is neither too long (around 30 minutes) nor too late. Children up to the age of 5 need between 11 and 12 hours of sleep at night, so bedtime should be around 7pm. A child older than 5 can enjoy bedtime at around 7:30pm.
• Avoid screen time for at least two hours before bedtime. Falling asleep in front of the TV should never happen.

If your toddler wakes frequently, consider seeking support from an experienced sleep consultant to ensure the issue is addressed appropriately. Night terrors can be scary but are rarely something of concern.

Find more articles on sleep and bedtime routines here and here.

Implementing better sleep routines and ensuring your child gets the needed rest – a solid 11 to 12 hours of sleep – can improve their sleep quality and lessen the occurrence of night terrors.