Understanding the Difference Between Night Terrors and Nightmares in Children: A Guide for Parents
Sleep disruptions in children can be a distressing experience for both the child and their parents. Two common types of sleep disturbances are nightmares and night terrors. While they might seem similar on the surface, they are fundamentally different in terms of causes, symptoms, and how parents should respond. Knowing the difference between the two can help parents support their children more effectively.
What Are Nightmares?
Nightmares are dreams that occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep. This is the sleep stage when the brain is most active. Nightmares are particularly common in children under 10 and often involve frightening themes like monsters, animals, or real-life threats (e.g. robbers).
Signs of Nightmares:
The child wakes up fully alert and aware of their surroundings.
They may remember parts of the dream and be able to describe what scared them.
The child seeks comfort and is usually soothed by reassurance from a parent or caregiver.
They may resist going back to sleep out of fear that the bad dream will return.
What Are Night Terrors?
Night terrors, on the other hand, occur during deep non-REM sleep, usually within the first few hours of falling asleep. Unlike nightmares, night terrors are not dreams but acute episodes where the child appears distressed, although they remain unconscious. Night terrors are most common in children aged 2-4, though they can occur up until the age of 12.
Signs of Night Terrors:
Night terrors start suddenly, often with a scream or cry.
The child may look panicked, with fast breathing, sweating, and a racing heart.
Although they may appear to be awake with open eyes or even talking, the child is not fully conscious.
They may thrash, scream, or act agitated and are typically inconsolable during the episode.
After the night terror, the child usually returns to sleep with no memory of the event the next day.
Key Differences Between Nightmares and Night Terrors
Awareness and Memory: Children who experience nightmares are fully awake when they recall the bad dream, and they are generally responsive to comfort. In contrast, during night terrors, the child remains unconscious and will have no memory of the event afterwards.
Timing: Nightmares happen during REM sleep, typically later in the night, while night terrors occur in the early part of the night during deep non-REM sleep.
Behaviour: Children having a nightmare may be easily soothed by a parent’s presence. Those having a night terror are often agitated and do not respond to attempts to comfort them.
How to Help Your Child
For Nightmares:
Reassure Them: Calmly comfort your child, offering hugs or just staying with them for a few minutes until they feel safe.
Establish a Routine: A soothing bedtime routine, like reading a story can reduce the likelihood of nightmares.
Talk About It: Encourage your child to talk about the dream. You can help reframe the dream to give it a more positive or less scary outcome.
For Night Terrors:
Stay Calm: As unsettling as night terrors can be, they are generally harmless and do not require intervention. Ensure your child is safe and will not hurt themselves.
Avoid Waking Them: Waking your child during a night terror can cause more confusion and prolong the episode. It’s best to let it run its course.
Prevention: Overtiredness or changes in routine can trigger night terrors. Keeping a regular sleep schedule and ensuring your child gets enough rest may help reduce the occurrence of night terrors.
When to Seek Professional Help
In most cases, nightmares and night terrors resolve on their own as children grow older. However, your child may need to see your GP if:
The night terrors are very violent and there is a risk of injury to your child or yourself.
The night terrors are happening a lot and disturbing the family's sleep.
Your child is very sleepy during the day.
Your child is having nightmares and is also experiencing anxiety or stress during the day.
Your child has nightmares after going through a traumatic event (e.g. a natural disaster like a bushfire or a car accident).
Your GP may refer you to a paediatrician or sleep specialist.
