Night Terrors in Children: What Parents Can Do
A child who suddenly sits upright screaming, looks straight through you, and cannot be comforted can make any parent’s heart race. Night terrors are especially upsetting because they often look like a child is awake and terrified, yet your child may not recognize you or remember a thing the next morning.
The reassuring news is that night terrors are usually harmless, common in young children, and typically fade as the nervous system matures. Knowing what you are seeing – and what to do in the moment – can help you protect your child’s safety without accidentally making the episode last longer.
What are night terrors?
Night terrors, also called sleep terrors, are episodes of intense fear that happen during deep, non-REM sleep. They are a type of parasomnia, which means an unusual behavior that occurs during sleep.
They most often affect children between ages 3 and 8, although toddlers and older children can have them too. An episode usually occurs in the first third of the night, often one to three hours after bedtime. A child may scream, cry, sweat, breathe quickly, kick, sit up, or try to get out of bed. Their eyes might be open, but they are not fully awake.
For parents, the hardest part is that a child can seem inconsolable. They may push you away, speak unclearly, or appear not to know who you are. This is not defiance or a sign that your child does not feel safe with you. Their brain is caught between sleep stages.
Most episodes last a few minutes, though some can last longer. Afterward, many children settle back to sleep quickly. By morning, they usually have no memory of what happened.
Night terrors vs. nightmares
Nightmares and night terrors are easy to confuse, but the response is different. A nightmare happens during REM sleep, usually later in the night or early morning. Your child wakes up, can tell you what frightened them, and often wants comfort. A cuddle, calm reassurance, and a small drink of water may help them return to sleep.
During a night terror, your child is not truly awake. Trying to fully wake them can leave them confused, scared, and more agitated. Instead of asking questions or trying to reason with them, focus on keeping the environment calm and safe.
What to do during night terrors
Your job during an episode is not to stop the terror by force. It is to quietly prevent injury and wait for your child’s sleep cycle to reset.
Stay nearby and speak softly if your child seems to respond to your voice. Simple phrases such as, “You’re safe. I’m right here,” are enough. Avoid shaking, restraining, or repeatedly trying to wake them unless there is an immediate safety concern.
If your child tries to climb out of bed, walk around, or run, gently guide them away from stairs, doors, sharp furniture, and windows. Keep the room dim and reduce noise. If another adult is home, one person can stay with the child while the other removes hazards or checks that exterior doors are secured.
Once the episode passes, let your child continue sleeping if possible. There is no need to discuss it in detail the next day if they do not remember it. If they ask questions, offer a brief, matter-of-fact explanation: “Sometimes your body gets a little mixed up while you’re sleeping, but you were safe.”
It can help to keep a brief log with the bedtime, episode time, length, and anything unusual that day, such as a missed nap, fever, late activity, or disrupted routine. Patterns may become clearer after a week or two.
Why do night terrors happen?
Experts do not always know why one child has night terrors while another does not. They are thought to be related to an immature sleep-wake system, and they can run in families. A child is more likely to have them when their deep sleep is disrupted.
Common triggers include sleep deprivation, irregular bedtimes, illness or fever, stress, sleeping somewhere unfamiliar, and a full bladder. Some medications and sleep-related breathing problems may also contribute. Night terrors can become more frequent during periods when family routines are stretched thin, such as travel, school changes, a new sibling, or a parent returning to work.
This does not mean you caused the episodes or that every stressful day will lead to one. It simply means sleep tends to be more vulnerable when a child is overtired or their schedule changes abruptly.
Can you prevent night terrors?
You cannot prevent every episode, but steady sleep habits can reduce the likelihood for many children. The goal is not a perfect bedtime routine. It is helping your child get enough sleep consistently.
Start by looking at whether bedtime has drifted too late. Young children often need more sleep than parents realize, and overtiredness is one of the most common triggers. A predictable wind-down period with low lights, a familiar sequence, and limited stimulating play can make the transition to sleep easier.
Try to keep wake-up times and bedtime relatively consistent, including on weekends. If your child still naps, protect that nap when possible. A skipped nap may not seem like a big deal in the afternoon, but it can lead to a rougher night.
For children who have episodes at nearly the same time each night, scheduled awakenings may be worth discussing with a pediatrician. This approach involves gently waking the child about 15 minutes before the usual episode, keeping them awake briefly, then letting them fall back asleep. It can interrupt the sleep pattern that leads to the terror. It is not necessary for occasional episodes, but it may help when they are frequent and predictable.
Avoid making bedtime overly anxious. Repeatedly warning a child about night terrors or asking them to report their dreams can create worry around sleep, especially if they are old enough to sense your concern. Keep your approach calm, simple, and reassuring.
When to call the pediatrician
Occasional night terrors that resolve on their own generally do not require treatment. Still, it is wise to bring them up at regular checkups, especially if they are happening more than once a week or disrupting the whole family’s sleep.
Call your child’s pediatrician sooner if episodes involve possible injury, leaving the house, violent movements that are hard to redirect, drooling or stiffening, or unusual jerking that could suggest a seizure. You should also seek guidance if your child snores loudly, gasps, pauses in breathing, is very sleepy during the day, or has major behavior changes. These symptoms can point to another sleep issue that deserves attention.
A medical professional can also help if the episodes begin suddenly in an older child, continue into the teen years, or seem connected to medication, anxiety, trauma, or a significant change in your child’s well-being. Recording a short video of an episode, if you can do so safely, may give the pediatrician useful information.
A few questions parents often ask
Should I wake my child during a night terror?
Usually, no. Waking a child fully may increase confusion and distress. Stay close, protect their safety, and allow the episode to pass. The exception is when you need to move them away from a genuine hazard.
Do night terrors mean my child is stressed or traumatized?
Not necessarily. They can happen in otherwise happy, healthy children, particularly when they are overtired or ill. Stress can be one trigger, but a night terror alone is not proof that something is wrong emotionally.
Will my child outgrow them?
Most children do. Episodes often become less frequent over time and stop as sleep patterns mature. In the meantime, a consistent routine and a calm response can make a meaningful difference for everyone in the house.
Watching your child experience a night terror can feel lonely, particularly at 2 a.m. when you are second-guessing every choice. Trust the basics: stay calm, keep them safe, protect sleep where you can, and ask for medical guidance when the pattern feels frequent or concerning. Your steady presence matters, even when your child cannot fully recognize it in the moment.
