How to Handle Toddler Night Terrors

Video Transcript

"Night terrors. Is your child suffering from night terrors? Well it's a phenomenon that does affect many people. I'm Dr. Felicia, and I'd like to share a few tips with you on, how to handle your child's night terrors. One distinction about night terrors verses the typical nightmare, a night terror is a very deep, deep seated sleep, where the child actually feels that what's happening is real. Now these are very real phenomenon to them, very, very frightening, so as a parent you want to handle it a little bit more seriously than you do with your typical nightmare. What's really important for a child when they have night terrors, is that now they're afraid to go to sleep the next night. So it's up to mom to try to reassure them, do your parenting in terms of, supply something that they like. For instance they might have their favorite stuffed animal in their bed with them. Some children love the softness of a very soft towel like this, if you put it in bed with them. Make sure they have lots of familiar things around with them. And allow them to hold maybe their favorite pet, if they bring it to bed. But night terrors really originate from a very deep seated sleep, and as I said, it's hard for the child to distinguish what's real and what's not. Those are experiences that they usually outgrow very easily. So if you secure your child during that process, be patient, you may have to take more time than your typical nightmare handling, you don't just send them right back to bed, you want to make sure that they're feeling safe and secure and calm down when you do bring them back to bed. Night terrors are very real. If they continue too long, you would want to consult a professional about them, and then get your proper advice on how to deal with it better with your child, and that depends on the child's age and ability. Somebody professional would have to decide and help you work with them. So please as a parent, if you're working with your child's night terrors, be patient, very patient, because this is a very real, scary event for that child. And I hope that my tips help you in terms of reinforcing the child, supplying familiar items, being patient, and certainly seek a professional help if it prolongs too long. Again, this is Dr. Felicia signing off on, how to help your child with night terrors. Good luck and god bless."