En
Français
Deutsch
Nederlands
Italiano
Español
Your cart
There are no more items in your cart
How to attach a headboard (with or without drilling): quick and effective soluti
Waterproof sheet or mattress protector: the best solution by age group
27 Original, Useful, and Trendy Christmas Ideas for Teens 2025
Christmas Activities for Baby: Creative Ideas for Home & Daycare
When to put up Christmas decorations for extended magic?
Baby night terrors: Understanding, managing and soothing restless nights
Categories:
Child Development
Understanding and managing baby's night terrors
Does your baby wake up screaming at night and seem terrified while not recognizing you? Night terrors affect about 40% of children and are clearly distinct from ordinary nightmares. Although these episodes can be very impressive, they generally pose no danger to your child's development. In this article, you will discover how to identify, manage, and prevent night terrors in your baby to regain more peaceful nights.
Understanding night terrors in babies and children
Definition and difference from nightmares
A night terror is characterized by an incomplete awakening of the child accompanied by screaming, agitation, and intense fear, unlike a nightmare which fully wakes the child.
These episodes occur during deep sleep, usually in the first few hours after falling asleep. The baby's developing brain goes through different sleep phases during which certain areas remain active while others are at rest. This delicate balance can sometimes cause a state between wakefulness and sleep where the child shows signs of terror without being truly aware of their environment. This is why your presence, although reassuring, is not necessarily perceived by the child during the episode.
Age of onset and frequency of night terror episodes
Night terrors typically appear in children aged between 12 months and 4 years.
Age | Frequency | Observations |
6 months to 6 years | About 5% of children | Peak between 3 and 4 years |
Under 4 years | About 40% | Relatively common disorder |
After 5 years | Rare | Significant decrease |
Adolescence and adulthood | Very rare | Generally disappeared |
Caption: This table indicates the frequency of night terrors based on the child's age. Night terrors are more common in young children and generally decrease with age.
The good news for parents is that these episodes gradually decrease with age. They become rare after age 5 and generally disappear before entering primary school. In 6-month-old babies, night terrors are infrequent because the sleep cycle is not yet fully established as in older children.
Symptoms and characteristic signs of night terrors in babies
A night terror manifests itself through specific signs that distinguish it from other sleep disorders in babies.
- Sudden screaming and yelling
- Agitation and sudden movements
- Blank or panicked look
- Excessive sweating and increased heart rate
During the episode, the child does not respond to your presence because they are in a particular state between sleep and wakefulness. Although they may have their eyes open and seem awake, they are not aware of their surroundings or the people around them. This lack of awareness explains why they do not recognize their parents and may even seem frightened by their attempts to comfort them.
Causes and triggering factors
Night terrors primarily result from an immaturity of the child's central nervous system that disrupts the transition between different sleep phases.
Several factors can contribute to the occurrence of these nocturnal episodes. Excessive fatigue is one of the main triggers, especially when the child skips their usual nap or goes to bed later.
Stress and anxiety also play an important role, for example during a move, a separation, or a change in daycare. Given their genetic component, night terrors are more common in children whose parents experienced similar disorders in their childhood.
Finally, a disruption of the circadian rhythm, caused by irregular sleep schedules or jet lag from travel, can also increase the risk of episodes.
Impact of night terrors on sleep and development
Night terrors temporarily disrupt your baby's sleep cycle, but without lasting consequences on the overall quality of their rest.
These nocturnal episodes seem much more traumatic for you than for your child. Unlike nightmares, your little one generally has no memory of these terrors the next morning. This peculiarity is explained by the fact that these disturbances occur during deep sleep, a phase during which the brain does not record events in long-term memory. Thus, while you may spend a sleepless night worrying, your child wakes up fresh and ready, as if nothing had happened.
How to manage night terrors in babies
Appropriate reactions during an episode
The first thing to do during a night terror is to secure your child's environment.
Here are the actions to take and those to avoid during a night terror:
- Secure: Ensure the child's immediate environment is safe.
- Observe: Stay calm and monitor without intervening.
- Avoid: Do not wake or startle the child.
- Reassure: If the child wakes up, speak softly.
Adopt best practices to manage these episodes effectively.
Night terrors typically last between 1 and 5 minutes, but can sometimes extend up to 30 minutes. During this episode, your calmness is crucial because the child, although unaware of your presence, can sense your anxiety. The episode ends when your child naturally calms down and returns to normal sleep.
Consult a doctor only if night terrors are very frequent or last more than 30 minutes.
Effective prevention strategies
To prevent night terrors in your baby, several approaches are possible depending on the identified triggers.
Creating a soothing environment may include introducing a comfort object, but it's important to know at what age you can leave a comfort object in the baby's bed. A regular sleep schedule helps stabilize the child's circadian rhythm and reduces the risk of night terror episodes. Managing fatigue is also crucial, as an overly tired child is more likely to experience sleep cycle disturbances. Setting up a baby's room that is calm and at an ideal temperature also contributes to peaceful sleep onset.
Soothing bedtime rituals
A well-established bedtime routine plays an important role in preventing night terrors by preparing the child for peaceful sleep.
Age | Ritual | Impact on sleep |
0-12 months | Lukewarm bath, gentle massage, lullaby | Promotes relaxation and falling asleep |
1-3 years | Short story, cuddle, song | Creates a secure environment |
3-5 years | Reading, calm discussion, soft lighting | Helps release tension |
Legend: This table presents examples of bedtime rituals adapted to different age groups. These rituals aim to establish a calm and secure environment to promote peaceful sleep.
To help your child fall asleep peacefully and potentially reduce the risk of night terrors, check out our tips to help baby fall asleep easily. Regularity is an important element of the bedtime ritual, as it allows the child to anticipate sleep time. An effective ritual ideally lasts between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the child's age. Even during changes such as travel or vacations, try to maintain the essential elements of the ritual to preserve this reassuring framework.
When to worry and consult a professional
Signs that require medical consultation
Although night terrors are generally harmless, certain situations warrant medical consultation.
Frequency is the first warning sign - episodes occurring several times a week deserve a doctor's attention. Night terrors accompanied by potentially dangerous behaviors, such as bumping into furniture or attempting to leave the room, also require medical advice. Particularly long episodes, lasting more than 30 minutes, or those that significantly disrupt the child's sleep for several consecutive days are concerning. The sudden onset of night terrors in a child who had never experienced them before, especially after age 5, may indicate an underlying disorder that should be explored.
Professionals to consult and possible treatments
The pediatrician or family doctor is your first point of contact for problematic night terrors.
Although there is no specific medication for night terrors, several approaches can be proposed depending on the situation. The scheduled awakening technique, which involves gently waking the child about 15 minutes before their usual episode time, often helps modify the sleep cycle and reduce the frequency of episodes. In some cases, when night terrors are linked to significant anxiety, a consultation with a child psychologist may be beneficial. The doctor can also check if other sleep disorders such as sleep apnea are not the cause.
Night terrors and other sleep disorders in children
Differentiating night terrors from other parasomnias
Parasomnias encompass various undesirable experiences occurring during sleep or during transitions between wakefulness and sleep.
Night terrors differ from nightmares in that they occur during deep sleep, while nightmares appear during REM sleep and fully wake the child who usually remembers them. Sleepwalking, another common parasomnia, involves complex behaviors such as walking or talking during deep sleep, whereas night terrors are mainly characterized by intense emotional manifestations. These disorders can coexist in the same child, which explains why some babies exhibit several types of parasomnias simultaneously.
Connection with other sleep disorders in children
Night terrors can be associated with other sleep difficulties in children, creating a vicious cycle.
Sleep onset problems often contribute to night terrors by causing excessive fatigue in the baby. Fragmented sleep also increases the risk of episodes, as the body tries to compensate for the lack of rest by altering the duration and intensity of deep sleep. Paradoxically, night terrors themselves can disrupt the overall sleep cycle if the child fully wakes up after an episode, leading to disorientation that complicates their return to sleep.
Long-term evolution of night terrors in babies
Night terrors are generally a temporary disorder that naturally diminishes with the child's age.
Children who have experienced night terrors in early childhood have a higher risk of developing sleepwalking after the age of 5, as both disorders share similar neurological mechanisms.
However, no direct link has been established between night terrors and future anxiety disorders, although stress can be a common trigger. While they become rare after age 5, some children may experience occasional episodes until adolescence, particularly during periods of intense stress.
Dealing with your baby's night terrors requires patience and understanding. By establishing a soothing bedtime routine and knowing when to consult a professional, you transform these stressful moments into simple stages of your child's development.
Over time, these nocturnal episodes will naturally fade, making way for more peaceful nights for the whole family.