Guide to differentiating night terrors from nightmares

Although nightmares are not common, most babies and children, as well as adults, can experience them. A nightmare is nothing more than a bad dream that causes fear and often causes awakening in the middle of the night. Unlike this type of dream, night terrors can occur between 3 and 6 years of age and disappear spontaneously as children grow. It is important to learn to differentiate nightmares from night terrors in order to help your baby overcome either episode.

Nightmares : characteristics and how to help

They occur during the REM phase of sleep.

Dreams and nightmares occur several hours after going to bed or in the early hours of the morning during the REM ( Rapid Eye Movement ) phase of sleep. This is when there is high brain activity while sleeping, but the body is at rest. This phase occurs three to four times during the sleep cycle.

During this phase, the brain is very active absorbing new information learned and strengthening memory. Because the images of the dream or nightmare are so vivid, your little one may not be able to distinguish what is real and what is not .

They cause night awakenings

After a bad dream or nightmare, it is very normal for your baby to wake up in the middle of the night feeling scared or anxious and reluctant to go back to sleep until he feels safe. To reassure him, provide him with support and explain to him that it is just a bad dream.

Unlike night terrors, nightmares usually wake children up, and hopefully your little one will vividly remember his or her bad dream .

How to avoid or reduce nightmares?

The frequency of nightmares can increase with feelings of stress, lack of sleep, fatigue, and sudden changes in the place where your child usually sleeps.

Avoid putting your baby to bed too late or when you notice that he is overtired. To do this , move his bedtime forward by about 15 minutes and check for any changes.

Don't forget that a consistent bedtime routine will help your little one not only fall asleep more easily, but also sleep better.

Night terrors : characteristics and how to help

They manifest during the NREM phase of sleep

Unlike nightmares, night terrors are temporary episodes of childhood sleep and occur in the NREM ( No Rapid Eye Movements ) phase in the first third of the night during the deep sleep stage.

They appear between 2.5 and 6 years

Night terrors usually appear between 2.5 and 6 years of age and resolve spontaneously as the child approaches adolescence. While some children experience these episodes more frequently than others during childhood, not all children suffer from them.

They do not cause night awakenings

Unlike dreams, good or bad, children who have night terrors do not wake up while the episode is occurring and usually do not remember it.

However, a night terror can cause unconscious physical movements , such as sleepwalking, sitting up in bed, opening the eyes, or screaming. That's why keeping a safe room is very important if your little one is having this type of episode.

How to help your child with night terrors?

First of all, make sure your little one's bedroom is free of hazards , so that if he or she gets out of bed and starts walking, he or she won't trip or bump into anything.

Once the episode is over, wake them up slowly and gently so they don't get scared . You can turn on a dim light in case they are scared of the dark. Many times, a night terror can happen again in the same night if they are not awakened from their sleep cycle.

Although the cause of night terrors is unknown, they are not usually signs of any physical or mental disorder . However, if you still have concerns or questions, consult your pediatrician.

If you have any questions or concerns about your baby's sleep routine, please contact us for clarification and guidance.