At a glance
- Night terrors usually happen early in the night; nightmares more often happen later.
- Stay nearby and prevent injury without trying to force your child awake.
- Regular sleep and avoiding overtiredness can help reduce episodes.
Is it a night terror or a nightmare?
During a night terror, a child may have open eyes but remain difficult to reach or comfort. With a nightmare, the child wakes up, can often describe a scary dream and usually responds to reassurance. Timing and recall are clues, not a way to diagnose every nighttime event.
Two different nighttime experiences
- Usually early in sleep
- Child is not fully awake
- Little or no memory afterward
- Often later in the night
- Child wakes and seeks comfort
- May remember the frightening dream
What should I do during a night terror?
Stay calm and watch for hazards. Do not shake the child, shout questions or try to make them explain what happened. Touch or restraint may increase their distress; intervene gently only when needed to prevent injury. If they walk, guide them away from stairs and back toward bed.
Clear objects from the floor and secure windows and outside doors safely. If your child also sleepwalks, make sure stairs are protected. Tell other caregivers what the usual episodes look like and how to keep your child safe.
Why do episodes happen more often some weeks?
Not getting enough sleep, illness and stress can make episodes more frequent. Keep bedtime and waking times consistent and allow enough time for sleep. A quiet bedtime routine can help. Record when episodes occur, how long they last and whether your child is ill or unusually tired.
When should we speak with the pediatrician?
Book a visit if episodes happen often, create an injury risk, disrupt the family's sleep or come with daytime sleepiness. Mention loud snoring, gasping or pauses in breathing. A short recording can help the clinician understand an unusual episode if it can be made safely.
Not every nighttime movement is a night terror. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, blue lips, serious injury or a possible first seizure. Discuss events that are different from the child's usual pattern or leave them unwell after waking.
Common questions
Should I wake my child during a night terror?
Usually no. Keep them safe and let the episode pass. For a nightmare, comfort the awake child and help them settle back to sleep.
Are night terrors a sign that my child has been traumatized?
Night terrors alone do not show that trauma occurred. They also happen in healthy children. Discuss any separate concern about distress or safety with your child's clinician.
Sources
- AAP — Nightmares, night terrors and sleepwalking
- NHS — Night terrors and nightmares
- Royal Children's Hospital — Night terrors
- AAP — Urgent care, ER or pediatrician
Written for Pedemy in our own words from the sources above; checked 2026-11-03. For education only, not medical advice. Pedemy is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the organizations cited.