Night Terrors in Children: Causes, Triggers, and How to Cope
Parents of young children may be familiar with the unsettling phenomenon of night terrors. These episodes, more frightening for parents than for the child, typically occur early in the night and are often triggered by various factors. Understanding these events is crucial for caregivers to provide appropriate support.
Night terrors usually strike during the transition from deep to light sleep, most commonly in preschool-age children aged 3 to 4, and can persist until around 12 years. Infants as young as 18 months may also experience them, although it's less common. Babies typically have no memory of these incidents in the morning.
During a night terror, babies may scream, sweat, thrash around, have open, glassy eyes, a racing heartbeat, and rapid breathing. They do not respond to attempts to comfort or soothe them and remain asleep throughout the episode, which usually lasts from a few minutes to up to 45 minutes. Causes can range from overstimulation and family history to sickness, certain medications, being overtired, stress, new sleep surroundings, or poor sleep quality. In babies, night terrors are often caused by factors such as sleep deprivation, stress, fever, irregular sleep schedules, or genetic predisposition.
If a baby has a history of night terrors, all caregivers should be aware and know how to handle such episodes when the parent is out. It's crucial to note that night terrors are scarier for parents than for the babies experiencing them.
Night terrors, while alarming for parents, are a common part of childhood and typically resolve on their own. Understanding their causes, triggers, and nature can help caregivers provide the right support and ensure a peaceful night's sleep for both the child and the family.
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