Signs of Night Terrors in Toddlers

When sleep training is complicated by night terrors, it can be utterly distressing for parents to navigate. Being equipped with the knowledge of what terrors are and how to manage them can be a guiding light during a midnight mayhem. I hope to help you understand and present techniques to help both you and your child tackle these overnight disruptions.

What Are Night Terrors in Toddlers?

Another common name for night terrors is sleep terrors. Both night terrors and sleep terrors occur during the initial part of your child's night sleep which is called non-REM (Rapid Eye Movement). In contrast, nightmares occur in cycles throughout the night when your child is in REM sleep. Nightmares are dreams that can be remembered, whereas night terrors are often forgotten the following morning. It is particularly important to recognize that night terrors are not typically associated with a deeper mental health concern.

Characteristics of Night Terrors

• panic

• yelling

• perspiration

• confusion

• sleep walking

• lasts up to 30 minutes

• common occurance in children ages 3 to 12

• no memory of the incidence the following morning

What Causes Night Terrors

Although the root cause for night terrors is not clear, research say night terrors are related to the hyper-arousal of the central nervous system during sleep. Incidence of night terrors increase when there are factors such as:

• Sleep deficiency

• Anxiety or stress

• Fever

• Unpredictable sleep schedules

• Select medications

• Genetic predisposition

  

Remedies for Night Terrors in Toddlers

While night terrors are challenging in the moment, there are ways to reduce the frequency and manage night terror episodes should they occur.

1. Create a Predictable Wind Down Routine: routinely calming your toddler with a bedtime routine can reduce stress from a long day and prevent night terrors. Some things to include in your toddler's bedtime routine include: a warm bath, reading a book, a light massage or calming music.

2. Ensure Sufficient Sleep: sleep deprivation can trigger night terrors. When your child has an appropriate amount of sleep for their age, it can help prevent the precipitation of night terrors.

3. Reduce/Relieve Stress: find ways to alleviate stress in your toddler's day by talking about what may be worrying them, creating a secure sleep space and practicing positive self-talk.

4. Document Incidences and Strategize a Wake-Up: by keeping a diary of what day and what times the night terrors occur, you can utilize a wake-up technique to disrupt the sleep cycle and prevent the night terrors from occurring. Set an alarm to gently wake your child up 15-30min prior to the expected time their night terror occurs.

5. Check for Room Safety in the Event of Sleepwalking: should your child get out of bed during a night terror, keep them safe by securing window, doors and access to the staircase.

   

Sleep terrors can be an alarming experience for parents. But once you understand the reasons why they occur and you implement strategies to encourage better sleep, the majority of children eventually outgrow night terrors. Don't forget, you don't need to tackle this alone. If you find yourself still struggling, remember, I offer a FREE 15-minute sleep assessment to discuss your struggles and help you determine if you need just a tweak or if my professional sleep coaching is in better alignment with your needs. Have a FREE chat with me to hear how I work 1-1 with families to get better sleep.