Sleep Terrors in Kids: Causes, Signs and How Parents Should Respond

It is late at night when a child suddenly sits upright in bed, screaming and appearing terrified. Their eyes may be open, their heart racing, and they may thrash or attempt to run — yet they do not recognise their parents or respond to comfort. By morning, they remember nothing.

These episodes, known as sleep terrors or night terrors, can be alarming for families. However, experts say they are usually harmless and part of normal childhood development.

Unlike nightmares, which occur during REM sleep and are often remembered, sleep terrors occur during deep non-REM sleep (Stage N3). They typically appear in the first half of the night and are most common among children aged 3 to 12 years.

What Are Sleep Terrors?

Sleep terrors are a type of parasomnia, meaning unusual behaviours occur during sleep. During an episode, a child may:

• scream or cry suddenly

• sit up or thrash in bed

• sweat heavily

• breathe rapidly

• have a fast heartbeat

• appear confused or terrified

Despite the dramatic behaviour, children are not awake and cannot be comforted like they would be after a nightmare. Doctors emphasise that these episodes are not signs of emotional trauma or psychological problems. Most children outgrow them naturally.

How to Recognise a Sleep Terror

Sleep terrors have distinct signs that set them apart from nightmares:

Sudden arousal: The child sits up or screams abruptly.
Physical symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, sweating and dilated pupils.
Unresponsiveness: The child does not recognise parents or respond to soothing.
No memory: Children usually have no recollection the next morning.

Episodes typically last a few minutes but can feel longer to parents.

Why Do Sleep Terrors Happen?

The most common trigger is overtiredness or disrupted sleep schedules. Other contributing factors may include:

• irregular sleep routines

• stress or illness

• fever

• sleep deprivation

• family history of parasomnias

Deep sleep disruption can trigger the brain to partially awaken, causing the intense behaviours seen during sleep terrors.

How Parents Should Respond

The most important rule is not to wake the child, as this can increase confusion and prolong the episode.

Instead:

✔ Stay calm and wait for the episode to pass
✔ Ensure safety by removing sharp objects nearby
✔ Gently guide the child back to bed if they wander
✔ Maintain a consistent bedtime routine
✔ Ensure your child gets adequate sleep

Focusing on safety and calm reassurance helps prevent injury and reduces parental anxiety.

The Scheduled Awakening Technique

If sleep terrors occur at roughly the same time each night, parents can try scheduled awakening:

• Wake the child 15–30 minutes before the usual episode time

• Do this nightly for several days

• This can reset the sleep cycle and reduce episodes

This method works best alongside healthy sleep habits.

When to Seek Medical Advice

Sleep terrors are usually harmless and self-limiting. However, consult a doctor if:

• episodes become frequent or violent

• the child sleepwalks or has other sleep disturbances

• daytime functioning is affected

• episodes persist into adolescence

A paediatric sleep specialist can evaluate underlying sleep disorders if needed.

Reassurance for Parents

Sleep terrors can be frightening to witness, but they are generally not dangerous. With awareness, good sleep habits and a calm response, parents can manage these episodes safely.

In most cases, children outgrow sleep terrors as their nervous systems mature — leaving behind peaceful nights and relieved families.