How Do You Help A Child With Night Terrors?
Night terrors are not comparable to nightmares. Nightmares are extremely common among children and adults. Night terrors affect up to six percent of children, from age three to 12. Widely considered a sleep disorder, night terrors create a state of fear, terror, sweating, confusion and an increased heart rate. A child undergoing an episode can appear wide awake but is not. Make your child’s room as safe as possible in case he has an episode. Remove all possible causes of sleep disturbance from her routine or surroundings. Schedule a regular bedtime routine, with predictable times to fall asleep and wake. Implement soothing and calming bedtime rituals such as a warm bath, a song, book and snuggling time. Wait out a night terror if one does occur. Within 20 minutes or so, he should calm down and settle into a deep sleep. Be on hand to make sure she doesn’t hurt herself during an episode. Although your child may appear to be conscious, she is not and won’t be aware of your presence.
