It Can Affect People of All Ages: How to Prevent Night Terrors in Babies?

In this article; We have compiled all the wonders about night (sleep) terror, which often affects children between the ages of 1 and 7. If you're ready, let's start!

What is a Night Terror?

Night terrors are a sleep disorder commonly seen in infants and children aged 1 to 7 years. Night terrors, also known as parasomnia in medicine, are also called sleep terrors . Signs of night terrors , which can be very worrying for parents, include waking up screaming, kicking around, panting or sweating. So, what causes night terrors?

Night terrors in babies can have many causes. For example, factors such as respiratory problems, high fever, fear of separation, fatigue or malnutrition can trigger night terrors in babies. While attacks last for a few seconds in some children, they can last for minutes in others.

Night terrors, which are a very worrying situation for parents, are not actually a harmful ailment. It usually goes away on its own over time without any treatment. However, it is recommended that children with suspected night terrors should be examined. In such a case, first of all, the disease causing sleep terror should be treated. However, it is vital to be examined to rule out the possibility of epilepsy.

What Causes Night Terrors?

The exact cause of night terrors in infants and children is unknown. However, the following conditions are thought to trigger night terrors in babies.

1. Respiratory Problems

Breathing problems are thought to be at the root of many sleep disorders, including night terrors. For this reason, it is recommended to treat diseases that make breathing difficult, such as sleep apnea or adenoid enlargement, in a short time.

2. Psychological Factors

Another reason for night terrors in babies can be psychological factors such as separation anxiety. In adults, psychological diseases such as depression and anxiety disorder are thought to trigger sleep terrors.

3. Genetic Factors

It is known that babies with a family history of night terrors or sleepwalking are more likely to have night terrors.

4. Other Causes of Night Terrors

It is estimated that conditions such as fatigue, inadequate or unhealthy nutrition, and high fever can cause night terrors in infants.

What Are the Symptoms of Night Terrors in Babies?

Sleep terrors usually occur during the night's sleep. It is very rare in daytime naps. Among the symptoms of night terrors in babies , there are situations such as accelerated heart rate, waking up with screams, sweating, kicking around. But when children wake up in the daytime, they usually don't remember any of this.

If we summarize the symptoms of sleep terror in babies and children;

• Dilation of pupils,
• Waking up with a frightening shout or scream
• Finding yourself sitting in bed,
• Kicking around
• Rapid breathing,
• Acceleration of the heartbeat,
• Inability to wake up from sleep,
• Inability to see the environment despite appearing to be awake
• Sweating,
• Contraction of the body,
• Flickering or shaking.

How is Sleep Terror Diagnosed?

Diagnosis of night terrors is quite difficult in adults. Because attacks do not recur regularly in adults. In addition, the fact that people do not remember what they have experienced when they wake up in the morning makes it difficult to diagnose sleep terror, especially in adults living alone. However, sleep terrors in children and infantsmore easily diagnosed. Because parents can often witness the attacks of their children and inform their doctors correctly. At this stage, after listening to the child's history and performing a physical examination, if no underlying cause is found, physicians may refer him to a therapist or a sleep disorders treatment center. The sensors placed in the body during sleep in these centers can facilitate the diagnosis by evaluating the oxygen level in the blood, brain waves, breathing, heart rate, arm/leg movements and many other parameters during sleep.

Night Terrors Treatment in Babies

There is no routine procedure for treating night terrors in infants . However, children who are taken for examination on suspicion of night terrors should definitely be evaluated in terms of epilepsy. For this, your doctor may want to do various tests and examinations. In addition, extra examinations may be performed for apnea or adenoid enlargement, which can cause sleep terrors in babies. If no underlying cause of the baby's sleep disorder is found, no treatment is required. Because it is known that sleep terrors in babies and children go away on their own at later ages.

Even if no treatment protocol is applied , some points should be considered in order to take precautions for sleep terror in babies . For example, it is necessary to make sure that the baby is getting enough rest and sleep. In addition, care should be taken to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, eat well and healthy, and should be treated for infectious diseases that can cause symptoms with high fever.

How Does Sleep Terror in Babies Pass?

It would be beneficial to consult a physician first for night terrors in infants. At this stage, your doctor may want to check whether there are other diseases that trigger night terrors with various tests and examinations. If diseases such as apnea are found to trigger sleep terrors, these diseases should be treated first. At this stage, epilepsy etc. Further tests can be done to rule out diseases. If no underlying physical disease is detected, your doctor may refer you to a child therapist, thinking that psychological factors such as stress or fear of separation may cause night terrors in your baby.

Medication is rarely used for night terrors in children . Prescription drugs can be prescribed to a very small number of patients who are considered suitable after various tests.

Night terrors are a sleep disorder with the potential for injury. For this reason, parents should take the necessary safety measures in the child's room.

What to Do During a Night Terror?

What kind of way parents should follow during night terrors is one of the issues that parents wonder about. First of all, although it is difficult, it is recommended not to wake the child from sleep during sleep terrors. Because it can be very difficult for awakened children to return to sleep. However, at this point, objects that may harm the child can be removed and the safety of the bedroom can be ensured. Conversations that will cause anxiety and fear in the child should be avoided as much as possible.

Since night terrors do not cause a serious illness, parents do not need to worry. These attacks are expected to disappear over time. In cases that last for a long time and recur frequently, a doctor should be consulted.

When Does Night Terror in Children Start and When Does It End?

Night terrors in children usually begin after the age of 3. Very rarely, sleep terrors can be seen in babies aged 1.5 - 2 years. This is called an early night terror.

Many children who experience night terrors stop before the age of 12. In other words, the question of when night terrors end in children can often be answered as just before puberty. However, it should be known that this information is general information, that night terrors may last longer in some children, and even rarely, even in adulthood.

What Precautions Can Parents Take for Sleeping Terrors?

Along with the doctor's recommendations for night terrors, parents can also take various precautions. E.g;

• Mothers whose children experience night terrors should note the frequency, duration, and time of day it occurs. If sleep terrors always occur at the same time, the child can be woken 10-15 minutes before that time. During this time, he can be kept awake for a few minutes and be put back to sleep. This method is known to reduce the risk of sleep terrors.
• Another measure that can be taken to prevent sleep terrors in children is to ensure that they get enough sleep during the day. In this sense, it is important to go to bed and stay at the same time every day.
• Ventilation of the room where the baby sleeps, cleaning the bedding regularly, and having pajamas of suitable thickness for the season are also measures that parents can take for night terrors .