Mistakes to avoid when experiencing night terrors

Night terrors can be confused with nightmares, yet they are an entirely different phenomenon. To avoid common mistakes, it is important to know how to react.

Differentiate night terrors from nightmares

To differentiate night terrors from nightmares it is often necessary to observe their appearance. Nightmares usually occur during the REM sleep phase, i.e. rather at the end of the night and children remember them, while night terrors occur during the deep sleep phase, i.e. that is to say during the first half of the night, without memory on waking.

Avoid Common Mistakes When Having Night Terrors

The first thing to do if your child experiences night terrors is to stay calm. Children are often unable to remember their night terrors and may become disoriented and confused after an episode. It is important to avoid certain behaviors:

• Waking up your child during a night terror: this can aggravate the episode and cause confusion in the child. It’s best to wait until the episode is over and reassure him afterwards.

• Minimize or ridicule: Night terrors can be frightening and confusing to a child. It’s important to take your experiences seriously without minimizing or ridiculing your fears. This can cause the child to feel misunderstood and unsafe when having a night terror.

• Scolding or punishing your child: night terrors are often beyond your control. It is therefore important to avoid scolding or punishing him for something he cannot control. Instead, it’s best to reassure him and give him positive attention.

• Letting him sleep alone in the dark: A night light or dim light can help the child feel more secure and reduce the risk of night terrors.

By establishing a regular sleep routine, avoiding bedtime stimuli, and doing the right things, you can help your child reduce night terrors. In most cases, they are harmless and disappear over time.

Find out more: “Sleep” by Sophie Dussaussois and Thierry Manes.