Night Terrors and Nightmares in Children: What Is It and Why Does It Happen?

What is night terror (sleep terror)?

Night terror, also known as sleep terror, is a psychological disorder such as sleepwalking. Night terrors in children are experienced between 2 stages when transitioning from deep sleep to REM sleep. When the body is active, consciousness is not present.

What is this sleepwalking, let’s see: Such Things Not Only in Movies: Sleepwalking in Children

When does night terror start?

Usually it occurs during the 2nd or 3rd hours (ie the first 3th of sleep) after starting to sleep.

Although night terror is most common around the age of 3, it can start at an earlier age.

Every age has a different problem: Why Is Sleeping So Power? 7 Situations That Cause Age 3 Sleep Problems

What causes night terrors?

There is no single known cause for this, but night terrors are thought to be genetically linked. Some experts claim that if the child is in a stressful period or is extremely tired, there is a high probability of night fear, but some say that there is no such thing.

But don’t worry, as kids get older, they overcome their nighttime scares.

How can you tell if your child is experiencing night terrors?

The sleep terror begins with a loud scream. The child’s eyes are open, he can flick left and right, or even speak. Although it looks like it is awake, it is actually sleeping very deeply.

In addition to this, a child who experiences night terrors can sometimes wake up in cold sweat. If you experience such a situation, the child may not recognize you and remember what happened when you go to him.

Fill your mind with these games: Grow with Fun: Preschool Educational Games

When will night terrors pass?

Night terror, which usually lasts about 10 minutes, is what you try to wake up your child otherwise, it may cause the situation to worsen and take longer. In some cases, it ends in as little as 1 minute, sometimes it can even take up to 40 minutes.

What can you do while your child is experiencing night terrors?

In this situation, which is more difficult for you than your child, it is best to try to relax and calm your little one with your words.

Wake up your child 10-15 minutes before the start of the night terror and let him sleep again after keeping him awake for 5 minutes. Repeat this process until the nighttime fears are gone. According to research, this period takes less than 1 week in all cases.

You can also get him a sleeping partner. If you say, “What’s that? What is it, what is it for?

How can you prevent your child from experiencing night terrors?

Prevent your child from being overly tired during the day. if it occurs or if your family has a tendency to sleepwalking, talk to your doctor or a sleep specialist for sleep terror treatment.

What is nightmare?

Nightmare is a very vivid dream type that occurs during REM sleep. It means bad dream. It means the child has an unpleasant feeling or a trauma. While consciousness is active during the nightmare, the body (there is a rapid movement in the eyes) does not.

When do children have nightmares?

Nightmares are usually seen in the second half of the night, towards the morning.

Everything is troublesome after age 2: Younger Ages, Big Problems: 9 Situations That Cause 2-Year-Old Sleep Problems

Why do children have nightmares?

Nightmares often occur due to anxiety, traumatic events and scary television shows. It is more common in girls than boys.

How can you tell if your child is having nightmares?

A child who has nightmares wakes up screaming, but when he is approached, he becomes conscious. Sometimes he regains consciousness shortly after waking up. When asked what he saw, he likely remembers his bad experience. There is also the possibility that these bad dreams your child had may leave marks on his mind over the years.

These periods are risky, you need to learn them: Listen to these words of Adam Güneş to raise your child without harming your personality!

What can you do while your child has nightmares?

When your child has nightmares, calm him down and make him feel like he is with you.Don’t underestimate your fears, these dreams are very real to him. Relax him by hugging, kissing, or even lying next to him if necessary. But don’t take it to bed. These are Tracy Hogg’s suggestions.

So, what can you do if your little one doesn’t want to sleep in his own bed: A Guide to Understanding Children Who Don’t Want to Sleep in Their Own Bed

On this subject, Sarah Ockwell said, “Why Is My Child Not Sleeping?” he makes a different suggestion in his book. Citing his own experiences, Ockwell always let his children come to bed when they woke up with nightmares. Because he thought this was when children needed confidence and physical intimacy the most.

Sarah Ockwell tells her children that she can read stories that speak of her fears and thus alleviate their fear through storytelling, which is a safe tool.

The professor, who took part in a study on nightmares in children, has a creative suggestion as follows:

The professor tells the children to transfer their fears to the teddy bear, take care of the bear so that it is not afraid and try to help the bear. This method has been effective in many children.

You have a very good reason: 8 Reasons Every Child Should Have A Teddy Bear

How can you prevent your child from having nightmares?

The best thing you can do is not only comfort your child but also search for the cause of the nightmare and remove it from your child’s life if possible.

Keep the usual bedtime and keep practicing the preparation for sleep. If your child is afraid of monsters, even check under the bed to comfort him!

To avoid minor accidents during these nightmares, you can check out our little suggestions: Don’t Lose While Sleeping: The 8 Most Wanted Bed Barriers on the Internet by Brands

Source:

Why Is My Child Not Sleeping? -Sarah Ockwell-Smith

Miracle Solutions to Baby Care Problems-Tracy Hogg & Melinda Blau