How to Deal With a Child's Night Terrors
A night terror is far worst then a bad dream. The child wakes up screaming and shaking and possibly not recognizing their own parents. It can happen every night and last from 5 to 30 minutes. This happens to over 25 percent of children in America. Night terrors are not curable, however children eventually outgrow them. I have experienced this with my children and here are steps of what a parent can do to deal with it while it's happening.
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Things You'll Need
- Notebook for sleep schedule/diary
- Alarm clock
- Sleep medication, if suggested by doctor
Instructions
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Be patient. Your child may appear to be awake but they are not. Most children don't even remember the terrors the next day, so the best thing for you is not to become anxious, afraid or try to wake the child. Patiently hold the child or if the child jumps when you touch him, stand by to make sure he doesn't get hurt.
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Examine your child's sleep habits. You can do this by writing down her sleep schedule in a notebook. If her sleep schedule seems erractic, change it to something more steady. Doctors say a steady sleep schedule helps to prevent night terrors and that they happen more in children who are overtired.
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Once your child has had frequent night terrors you may notice a steady time that they are happening. Doctors suggest that you use your alarm clock to wake up before it happens and then wake the child. This will alternate the sleep cycle and prevent night terrors from occuring.
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Take your child to the doctor or tell your doctor during one of your annual well child checks. Some doctors, if they think it is severe enough, will prescribe your child sleep medication. Make sure you follow and stick to the doctor's directions about when and how to give the medication to your child.
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Tips & Warnings
Some people my confuse mild epileptic seizures with night terrors because the symptoms are very similiar. The difference is that mild seizures are much more brief then night terrors, from 30 seconds to a couple of minutes, but are much more severe to their health.
