The idea of night terrors in babies may sound scary.
While infant night terrors can be unsettling, rest assured they do not actually hurt your baby. – and even more importantly, only about 3-6% of children ever experience them. The risk of it happening in babies under 18 months is even lower!
That said, knowing what to expect and how to prevent night terrors can help. Here we’ll discuss what causes night terrors, the signs of night terrors in babies, what to do if your baby wakes up screaming, and give you tips for how to deal with night terrors if they become frequent.
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What Are Night Terrors in Babies?
A night terror is an episodic sleep disorder in which a child will scream, cry, shout out, or thrash their limbs while asleep. If your baby is having a night terror, they may appear awake, but they are in a semi-conscious state.
A night terror itself may last anywhere from a few minutes to up to 45. Once the night terror subsides, your baby will likely drift back to sleep.
As frightening as night terrors can be for you, your baby is not in pain. In fact, unlike a baby nightmare or bad dream, most will not even remember they’ve had a night terror.
Symptoms of night terrors in babies include:
- Inconsolable crying in sleep, sobbing, or screaming.
- Shivering, shaking, or trembling (Distinct from a seizure*)
- Racing heart
- Sweating
- Hyperventilating
- Wide, frightened eyes
- Not “seeing” the room – their eyes are glazed, as if asleep but with eyes open
*In the very rare case that it seems your baby is having a seizure while experiencing what appears to be a night terror, consult your healthcare provider.
What Causes Night Terrors?
Night terrors are a pretty mysterious phenomenon, and no one is quite sure what causes night terrors in babies, or in adults. There are, however, some theories:
- Since night terrors happen earlier in one’s sleep, usually within the first three hours, some research suggests night terrors are linked to the transition from non-REM sleep to REM baby sleep cycles.
- Another theory is that night terrors are linked to the development of your baby’s central nervous system.
There are some additional scenarios that may contribute to night terrors, but again, no one is quite sure why some babies experience them and others don’t.
- Fever or illness
- Medications
- Stress from a new situation
- New room or sleeping arrangement
- They’re not sleeping well
How to Deal with Night Terrors
Here are tips for how to deal with night terrors in babies and what to do if it seems your baby wakes up screaming.
Do not wake your baby from a night terror
You should not try to wake your baby from a night terror. This is because night terrors are more of a semi-conscious state than a sleep state, so “waking up” would be even more confusing or distressing for a baby having a night terror. Also, it may be harder to get your baby back to sleep after “snapping them out” of the night terror.
Most often night terrors resolve themselves and your baby goes peacefully back to sleep or wakes up on their own without remembering anything was wrong.
Stay calm
Infant night terrors can be scary, especially when night terrors symptoms are screaming and thrashing around. However, take a deep breath and stay calm. As unsettling as night terrors in infants are, the only night terrors treatment during an episode is to let it run its course.
Note: If your baby has night terrors or nightmares and you’re going out for the night, let your babysitter know ahead of time so they can be prepared.
Offer reassurance
If your baby screams inconsolably or has a history of night terrors, check on them immediately.
While you should not wake your baby from a night terror, do be there to offer reassurance until the night terror ends. While you should not try to wake your baby if they have a night terror, simply being present and offering reassurance is enough.
Hold your baby’s arms and legs, if needed
Night terrors in babies themselves are not dangerous, but if your baby is thrashing their arms and legs, they could accidentally hurt themselves. Therefore, its recommended that you hold their arms and legs if they thrash to keep them safe.
If your child tries to get out of bed during a night terror, also try to keep them in their bed until the night terror ends. Though scientists still don’t understand what causes night terrors, studies do show that babies who have night terrors are more likely to sleepwalk.
Night Terrors Vs Nightmares
There is a distinct difference between nightmares and night terrors:
- Nightmares are just bad dreams. That means that your baby can be woken from a nightmare, unlike a night terror which is more of a semi-conscious state. That’s why it’s best not to wake your baby if they’re having a night terror – it can cause them more confusion or distress.
- Most often babies do not remember that they’ve had a night terror or the substance of the night terror, however nightmares can be remembered – even if your baby can’t explain them.
- Night terrors typically happen in the earlier part of your baby’s sleep. Nightmares, on the other hand, occur later at night when your baby is in deeper, REM sleep.
- It's easier for a baby to drift back to sleep after a night terror than a nightmare, as they are not fully awake after a night terror and if they are, they won’t remember it.
When Do Night Terrors in Babies Start?
Night terrors typically happen when a child is older, between 3-7 years of age, though night terrors in toddlers can start as early as 18 months. If your newborn wakes up screaming, it likely isn’t a night terror as it’s far rarer for babies to have night terrors earlier than 18-months.
Wondering when do night terrors end? If your baby has a night terror or has them regularly, they will most likely stop around age 7.
How Do I Prevent Night Terrors in Babies?
While there are no ways to completely stop or prevent night terrors, there are ways to mitigate them.
Perform Your Calming Routine
Whether your baby is 6 months or 6 years old, performing a consistent bedtime routine before bed can settle their minds and create a feeling of security that may ward off nightmares or night terrors.
Maintain Consistent, Age-Appropriate Sleep Schedules
Research does suggest that fluctuations in bedtime and overtiredness in babies may contribute to night terrors. To prevent night terrors, maintain a consistent sleep schedule for your baby.
If you’re looking for help with figuring out your baby’s sleep schedule to prevent night terrors, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app. The app predicts when your baby should be put down for bed at night based on their circadian rhythm. The app also helps make sure your baby gets the right amount of daytime sleep to ensure better sleep at night.
Avoid Scary Stories Before Bed
This may seem obvious, but “grim” themes have a habit of appearing in traditional fairy tales. Same with shows on television!
Even if the story or show may not seem scary on the surface, a topic like being lost in the woods or about monsters may frighten your baby.
If your baby is prone to nightmares or night terrors, stick to books with more upbeat tones. Or you can try one of the best lullabies to help baby sleep!
Discuss It
Most often your baby will not remember their night terror. In fact, most will never remember they’ve even had one. However, if they do bring it up, or bring up a bad dream, it’s important to discuss it and reassure them so they understand that they are safe and it cannot hurt them.
When to Speak to Your Healthcare Provider About Night Terrors
Night terrors can be unsettling for both parents and children. Knowing when to seek guidance from a healthcare provider can help ensure your child receives the care they need.
Here are some situations where we recommend reaching out to your healthcare provider:
- Frequent or Severe Episodes: If night terrors occur more than once or twice a week, or if they seem particularly intense or prolonged, it's a good idea to discuss this with your child's healthcare provider.
- Interference with Daily Life: If your baby is having night terrors and seems excessively tired during the day, has difficulty concentrating, or their mood seems affected, speak to your provider.
- Concern About Baby Sleep Safety: If you're concerned about your baby injuring themselves accidentally during a night terror, speak to your healthcare provider about creating a safe sleep environment in case of a night terrors.
- Symptoms of Seizure or Sleep-Related Disorders: Seizures during sleep can sometimes be mistaken for night terrors. If your child experiences unusual movements, stiffening, jerking, or loss of responsiveness, it’s important to speak with your healthcare provider. Same goes if you notice any breathing changes or difficulty at night.
- Family History: If your family has a history of sleep disorders or other medical concerns, speak to your healthcare provider to understand or help rule out other potential conditions.
Final Thoughts
There are many things that can disrupt a baby’s sleep, and night terrors are often one of parents’ least favorite.
If your baby wakes up screaming, it is common to become upset and flustered. However, if your baby is having a night terror, try to remember that it will pass, and your baby will not remember it. While it may be hard to figure out how to stop night terrors, knowing how to deal with night terrors can help you be more prepared and calmer if one does happen.
If your baby is struggling with night terrors or is having other sleep-related struggles, take this free sleep assessment to see if there are any other changes to your baby’s schedule or routine that could help. Sometimes a simple change to your routine or the time you put them to sleep makes all the difference.
