Night terrors or nightmares: how to tell the difference?

A child who screams, shrieks or cries in his sleep or when he wakes up can be very impressive. As a parent, you may think your child has just had a bad dream, but how can you tell the difference between night terrors and nightmares?

CONTENTS :

• Night terrors: those unwanted visitors of the night
• What to do in case of night terrors in a baby?
• Nightmares: when baby's imagination plays tricks on him
• Prevent nightmares for peaceful sleep
• Night terrors vs. nightmares: a chart for parents

Night terrors: those unwanted visitors of the night 

Night terrors often start around 18 months of age, sometimes a little earlier, rarely after 5 years, and disappear before adolescence. A member of the parasomnia family, like sleepwalking, they are harmless to those who experience them.

How can you recognize this common sleep disorder in children? 

A child who experiences a night terror finds himself in bed sweating, his heart rate accelerates, he may speak incoherently, scream, cry, yell, become agitated, aggressive, stand up, make sudden movements and, throughout this episode, keep his eyes open before going back to bed as if nothing had happened.

Children who experience night terrors without waking up are unaware of their parents' presence around them. Awakened by the crisis, he may feel worried and disoriented, before going back to sleep.

In their typical form, night terrors last only a few minutes, leaving the child with no memory of them the following day. However, if they last longer, become more regular or more violent, don't hesitate to seek medical advice.

Note that night terrors can occur - more rarely - in adults, with the same symptoms. If the attacks are frequent or severe, we recommend consulting a neurologist or a clinic specializing in the management of sleep disorders.

Mysterious causes behind these frightening episodes 

Night terrors can be a sign of real anxiety (change of school, moving house, change in the family...), but are more often caused by overtiredness.

Because nap time during the day is getting shorter (at the end of kindergarten or at the start of first grade), or because your child is ill or has a fever... at bedtime, he or she falls straight into a deep sleep, conducive to their triggering.

Did you experience night terrors as a child? If so, it's very possible that your child will experience them too at some point. In fact, like sleepwalking, night terrors are hereditary disorders of deep slow-wave sleep.

When do night terrors start?

You'll recognize baby 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 generally leave no trace, these episodes of great anxiety are tiring for the body and disrupt the proper recuperation that little ones need.

To try to soothe them and reduce their frequency, review baby's sleep rhythm so that he goes to bed earlier and less tired. Also, reduce stimulation in the latter part of the day and reinvent or introduce a soothing bedtime ritual with lullabies, a story, a massage...

• If he's asleep, even if he's very agitated, don't wake him.
• Stay with him for as long as the crisis lasts, but don't hug him, as contact could prolong it.
• Speak softly to soothe her.
• If he wakes up, reassure him it was nothing serious.
• The next day, because your child won't remember a thing, avoid talking about his night terrors, to avoid the risk of creating bedtime anxiety.

Nightmares: when baby's imagination plays tricks on him

Although babies start dreaming at an earlier age, the first signs of nightmares rarely appear before 18 to 24 months, and are more likely to occur in the second half of the night, during REM sleep.

So when your child has a nightmare, he'll be screaming and calling out to you out of fear, even when he's awake. That's the main difference between night terrors and nightmares: your child'sstate of consciousness.

Triggers: from lost comforters to monsters hidden under the bed

At night, your child relives his day and the stress that sometimes accompanies it.Too much stimulation (an unsuitable TV program, a noisy place, a crowd, a discussion...), a recent change at home, at the nursery, in the classroom, a lost blanket, an event at the nanny's or at school, a reaction from the teacher or a classmate... can all have an impact.

Also, because older children tell 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, endless chases, abandonment or kidnapping, loneliness or natural disasters.

Your child's nightmares are nothing to worry about; they're a physiological expression of psychological stress. However, if they become too intense or too regular, don't hesitate to talk to your doctor.

Prevent nightmares for peaceful sleep

Young children cannot yet consciously recall their day. As a result, only the most emotional moments come back to them, sometimes multiplied tenfold and transformed into frightening dreams.

Behind every monster is a very real situation, a fear or worry experienced during the day. To counter or mitigate this phenomenon, you can accompany your baby.

• Magical rituals such as sharing the best moments of the day, cuddling, singing a song, lullabies, playing a familiar background noise, switching on a nightlight, leaving the bedroom door ajar, installing a baby monitor to create a direct link...help your child enjoy a softer night's sleep.
• A reassuring environment, with no dark corners or objects that can be deformed by the imagination (a coat rack, a giant stuffed toy...), where it's not too hot, a calm atmosphere and soft colors, is also likely to soothe baby.
• Natural discussions to explain the concept of nightmares, dismantle fears and reassure your child without minimizing his fright.
• Sleep delays should be kept to a minimum during baby's first years.
• You can leave his training cup filled with fresh water on your child's bedside table. Drinking is always good after a big emotion.
• Stories about monsters in the evening, violent films and video games (even if your child doesn't watch them directly) and, of course, Halloween films, can also be avoided for a while!

Night terrors vs. nightmares: a chart for parents

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