To begin with,

What is a "night terror"?

"Night terrors" are a type of sleep disturbance. A child suffering from them may suddenly wake up from sleep crying, screaming, or moaning under their breath, even though they are half asleep. This is because they are in a state between being asleep and being awake, unaware of your presence, and unable to respond to you, no matter what you say or do.

Experts believe that this phenomenon resembles a mysterious wandering that usually occurs during the transitional stages of sleep we go through every night. Such an episode can last from a few minutes to an hour, and when it is all over, the child falls back asleep with no memory of the incident.

"Night terrors" generally occur in young children, up to the age of 12.

What is the difference between "night terrors" and nightmares?

If your child has had a night terror, they won't remember it. A nightmare, on the other hand, wakes the child up completely from sleep. Not only will they remember what they saw in their dream, but they will also talk about it and have someone nearby to help them through it.

Parents will easily be able to tell if their child has had a night terror or a nightmare. If you are the only one worried in the morning, then the child has had a "night terror."

What is done in such cases?

Do not try to wake the child. Your attempts to calm him down will not only be rejected, but will also make the child more aggressive. Even if your little ones are ready to hurt themselves physically, do not touch them. Speak calmly to them and stay close by, monitoring them until the worst is over.

Children who suffer from "night terrors" may sleepwalk, so you should make sure that windows are closed at night and that there are no objects on the floor that could hurt them.

But what causes this phenomenon and can it be prevented?

There is no definitive way to prevent "night terrors" because no one knows exactly why they occur. What is known for sure is that children who experience them do not necessarily have psychological problems or are worried about something.

Medications or caffeine can contribute to this phenomenon. Also, if another member of your family suffers from something like this, it is likely to be inherited by the child.

If you notice that your child's "night terrors" occur at the same time every time, you can try "scheduled awakening," which means you can wake your child 15 or 20 minutes before he or she experiences the "night terror."

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Source: Kids Health