As we head into our fifth week of the lockdown – routines will have altered for most of us. This may mean some unsettled nights for our little ones, including night terrors. Night terrors are also known as Parasomnias and can present in different ways depending on each child and each episode. Sometimes, children will sit up in bed and will be unresponsive, whereas other times children may scream and kick – unresponsive to any sort of comfort.
Many parents understandably get very worried about night terrors, and this can be quite a distressing thing to witness.
There are a few things that can contribute to night terrors occurring in children, and two of the most common reasons for night terrors are over tiredness and overheating. We also see night terrors in children who have had a change in routine (most of us at the moment) and they can also be a result of an underlying medical condition like asthma, reflux, eczema or even if you have a child who is prone to snoring.
Firstly, it is important to understand the difference between a night terror and a nightmare so that you can distinguish between the two and respond appropriately.
Night terrors generally occur in the first part of the night and fall within the Non-REM stage of sleep. Your child will not know they have had a night terror and they can last anywhere between 5-15 minutes before your little one progresses into the next sleep stage. It will be difficult to comfort your little ones during a night terror as they are in the deep sleep stage.
In contrast, a nightmare occurs in the REM (dreaming) stage of sleep, usually in the second half of the night, and many children will be able to remember what they were dreaming about and can fully wake up as a result of the nightmare and will respond to comfort.
Once you have established whether your little one is having night terrors or nightmares, you can manage the situation better.
Some key tips for managing night terrors are below,
As always, if you have any concerns or questions about your little ones, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me @sleepbykate or email Sleepbykate@gmail.com
Kate x