Key points about night terrors
- night terrors are scary to watch but usually harmless to tamariki
- the most important thing to do when your child has a night terror is to keep your child safe
- generally, you gain nothing by trying to wake your child up during a night terror
- to encourage a return to normal sleep, guide your child gently back to bed
- try to resist comforting your child during a night terror
- night terrors are more likely to happen on nights when your child goes to sleep at a different time than usual
This page is about sleep in primary school tamariki.
Managing night terrors
Night terrors can be frightening to watch but are usually harmless for tamariki. The most important thing is to keep your child safe. Ensure that you secure the doors and windows, lock the gates, and block areas like the stairs. Clear away anything they could trip over, as they may walk or run during a night terror.
Help your child get enough sleep and avoid overtiredness. Night terrors are more likely when tamariki are not getting enough sleep.
Should I wake my child?
It is usually best not to wake a child during a night terror. Waking them can make them more upset and may make it harder for them to fall back asleep.
Getting your child back to sleep
To encourage a return to normal sleep, guide your child gently back to bed. If they resist, let them remain where they are but do not leave the child.
Should I interfere when my child is having a night terror?
It is natural to want to comfort your child during a night terror, but try to avoid this. Most tamariki will become more upset. Remember, they will not even remember this event in the morning.
Focus on keeping your child safe. If they are at risk of harm, step in and protect them, even if they resist.
When night terrors are more likely to happen
Night terrors are more likely to happen on nights when your child goes to sleep at a different time than usual. So stick to a set bedtime for your child, taking into account the need for increased sleep. This may mean you need to change your child's bedtime or wake time.
Avoid discussing night terrors the next day
Do not bring up the episode with your child the next morning. They are unlikely to remember it, and talking about it may worry them.
If, on the rare occasion, they do remember and ask about it, reassure them that they were safe and that you were looking after them.
You can also check the page on nightmares and night terrors.
Acknowledgements
Starship Foundation and the Paediatric Society of New Zealand thank the Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia, for making this content available to parents and families.
© Copyright – Centre for Community Child Health at the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 2014. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this content may be reproduced by a process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
