A child who screams, yells, or cries in their sleep or upon waking can be very alarming. As parents, you might think they've just had a bad dream, but how can you tell the difference between a night terror and a nightmare?
SUMMARY :
- Night terrors: those unwelcome visitors of the night
- What to do in case of night terrors in a baby?
- Nightmares: when baby's imagination plays tricks on him
- Preventing nightmares for a peaceful sleep
- Night terrors vs. nightmares: a chart for you parents
Night terrors: those unwelcome visitors of the night
Night terrors often begin around 18 months of age, sometimes a little earlier, rarely after 5 years, and disappear before adolescence. Belonging to the large family of parasomnias, such as sleepwalking, they are harmless for those who experience them .
How to recognize this common sleep disorder in children?
A child experiencing a night terror will find themselves in bed sweating , their heart rate will accelerate , they may speak incoherently , shout , cry , scream , become agitated , be aggressive , get up , have sudden movements and, throughout this episode, keep their eyes open before returning to bed as if nothing had happened.
A child experiencing a night terror without waking up is unaware of their parents' presence . Awakened by the episode, they may feel anxious and disoriented before falling back asleep.
In their typical form, night terrors last only a few minutes , leaving the child with no memory of them the next day. However, if they last longer, become more frequent, or are more intense, don't hesitate to seek medical advice.
It should be noted that night terrors can occur—though less frequently—in adults, with the same symptoms. If the attacks are frequent or severe, it is recommended to consult a neurologist or a clinic specializing in the management of sleep disorders.
The causes behind these frightening episodes are sometimes mysterious.
Night terrors can reveal genuine anxiety (changing schools, moving house, changes within the family…), but they are most often caused by excessive fatigue .
Because daytime nap time is reduced (at the end of kindergarten or at the start of first grade), because your child is sick or feverish… at bedtime, he falls directly into a deep sleep, conducive to triggering them .
Did you experience night terrors as a child? If so, it's very possible your child will experience them at some point. Indeed, like sleepwalking, night terrors, as disorders of deep slow-wave sleep, can be hereditary.
When do night terrors occur?
You will recognize baby's night terrors because they always occur early in the night , at the end of the first sleep cycle, usually before midnight and often within two hours of falling asleep .
What to do in case of night terrors in a baby?
Although night terrors usually leave no trace, these episodes of great anxiety are tiring for the body and disrupt the proper recovery that little ones need.
To try and soothe them and reduce their frequency, review your baby's sleep schedule so they go to bed earlier and less tired. Also, reduce stimulation in the last part of the day and create or introduce a calming bedtime routine with lullabies , a story , a massage , etc.
- If he is asleep, even if he is very restless, do not wake him up .
- Stay with him for the duration of the crisis, but do not hug him , contact could prolong it.
- Speak to him gently to calm him down.
- If he wakes up, reassure him , it was nothing serious.
- The next day, because your child will not remember anything, avoid mentioning their night terror so as not to risk creating bedtime anxiety.
Nightmares: when baby's imagination plays tricks on him
Although babies start dreaming earlier , the first signs of nightmares rarely appear before 18 to 24 months and usually in the second part of the night , during REM sleep phases.
So, when your child has a nightmare, they cry out and call for you because they're scared , even after waking up. This is, in fact, the main difference between night terrors and nightmares : your child's state of consciousness .
The triggers: from a lost cuddly toy to a monster hiding under the bed
At night, your child relives their day and the stress that sometimes accompanies it. Too much stimulation (an unsuitable television program, a noisy place, a crowd, a conversation…), a recent change at home , at daycare , at school , a lost cuddly toy , an event at the nanny's or at school , a reaction from their teacher or a classmate … can all be significant.
Also, because older children talk about their dreams, we know that the most frightening ones are made up of nasty creatures or animals hiding in the closet and under the bed, of endless chases, of abandonment or kidnapping, of loneliness or of natural disasters.
Your child's nightmares shouldn't worry you; they are a physiological expression of psychological stress. However, if they become too intense or too frequent, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.
Preventing nightmares for a peaceful sleep
Young children cannot yet consciously recall their day. Thus, only certain highlights, the most emotional ones, come back to them, sometimes amplified tenfold and transformed into frightening dreams.
Behind every monster lies a very real situation, a fear or worry experienced during the day. To counter or alleviate this phenomenon, you can support your baby.
- Magical rituals such as sharing the best moments of the day, hugging, singing a song, lullabies, playing a familiar background noise, turning on a nightlight, leaving the bedroom door ajar, installing a baby monitor to create a direct connection…help your child have sweeter nights.
- A reassuring environment with a room without dark corners or objects likely to become distorted by the imagination (a coat rack, a giant plush toy…), where it is not too hot, a calm atmosphere and soft colors, is also likely to soothe the baby .
- Natural discussions to explain the concept of nightmares, dismantle fears and reassure your child without minimizing their fright.
- Sleep delays should be as rare as possible during the baby's first years.
- You can leave their training cup filled with fresh water on your child's bedside table. Drinking always feels good after a strong emotion.
- Monster stories at night , violent films and video games (even if your child doesn't watch them directly) and of course, Halloween movies , can also be avoided for a while!
Night terrors vs. nightmares: a chart for you parents
| Characteristic | Night terrors | Nightmares |
| Appearance in the night | In the first part, during the deep sleep phase | In the second part, during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep phase |
| Age of onset | From 18 months to 5 years | All ages, common between 2 and 6 years old |
| Frequency | It can be regular, at the same time | Irregular |
| Child's state of consciousness | He is unaware of his parents' presence, sometimes even with his eyes open. | Awake, conscious, searching for his parents |
| Memory of the episode | None the next day | Clear, which can be told |
| Impact | Generally none | May affect mood, fatigue |
| Duration | A few minutes usually | Variable, can extend over the night |
| Behavior | Agitation, shouting, sweating, aggression, may appear terrified | Can cry, call for his parents |
| Triggering factors | Fatigue, fever, stress, changes in routine | Stress, anxiety, events of the day |
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