When Your Child Screams at Night
Few things are more alarming than hearing your child scream in the middle of the night. Understanding whether it's a nightmare or a night terror helps you respond appropriately and can save you a lot of worry.
Key Differences
- Timing: Night terrors happen in the first few hours of sleep (during deep sleep). Nightmares happen during the second half of the night (during REM sleep).
- Awareness: During a night terror, the child appears awake but is actually asleep. During a nightmare, the child wakes up and is aware.
- Memory: No memory of night terrors. Children remember nightmares.
- Response to comfort: Children having night terrors may push parents away. Children with nightmares seek comfort.
- Duration: Night terrors last 5-15 minutes. Nightmares end when the child wakes up.
How to Handle Night Terrors
- Don't try to wake your child — just keep them safe
- Don't restrain them — this can escalate the episode
- Wait it out — episodes usually last 5-15 minutes
- Ensure a regular, adequate sleep schedule — overtiredness is a major trigger
- Consider scheduled awakenings — if episodes are predictable, gently rouse your child 15-30 minutes before the typical episode time
How to Handle Nightmares
- Comfort and reassure your child that they're safe
- Stay with them until they calm down
- Use a nightlight if darkness is scary
- Talk about the dream during the day to help process it
- Avoid scary content before bed
When to Call the Pediatrician
- Episodes happen very frequently (multiple times per week)
- Episodes are getting more intense or lasting longer
- Your child has daytime sleepiness from disrupted sleep
- Episodes continue beyond typical ages
- You suspect a sleep disorder (snoring, breathing pauses)
Key Takeaways
- Night terrors and nightmares are different — knowing which one helps you respond correctly
- Night terrors: don't wake the child, keep them safe, ensure adequate sleep
- Nightmares: comfort your child, reassure them, limit scary content before bed
- Both are common and usually outgrown
