STLMoms: Night Terrors

Your child wakes not long after falling asleep, screaming, crying and confused. You try to console them, but nothing seems to work. Their eyes are open but they don't seem to recognize you. They are called night terrors. Parents aren't like to forget them, but luckily your child generally will.

Dr. Joseph Ojile with the Clayton Sleep Institute talked about they occur, if we can prevent them, and what you can do during one.

When and why do they occur?


*what point of sleep (90 minutes into sleep)

*ages-3-12 years

*up to 6% of children have night terrors

*most last 1-2 minutes, but could take 30 minutes before child relaxes.

*doesn't recognize you or speak

What are some of the causes of night terrors?

*Stressful life events

*Fever

* Sleep deprivation

*Medications that affect the central nervous system (the brain)

What can we do to help?

*could experience increased breathing, heart rate and sweats