What to do if you have frequent night terrors

Night terrors are a very common disease in daily life. It is a symptom caused by the fact that the human mental system is not completely relaxed after falling asleep and is still in a tense state. It usually occurs in children during their growth period. Children are prone to night terrors because they are overly excited during the day or overworked. Children with frequent night terrors need timely comfort from their parents. Parents should usually relax their children and tell them stories to relax their nerves.

What should I do if my child has frequent night terrors?

What are night terrors

Night terrors are a common sleep disorder in children, characterized by repeated awakenings from sleep and screaming, usually occurring in the first third of sleep, about 15-30 minutes after falling asleep.

Symptoms of night terrors in children

The baby suddenly screams and cries during sleep, accompanied by frightened expressions and movements, such as: eyes staring, hands and feet moving around, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating and other symptoms of autonomic nervous excitement. The attack usually lasts 1-10 minutes

Diagnostic testing for night terrors in children

The patient wakes up from sleep with a scream repeatedly, accompanied by intense anxiety, body movements and autonomic hyperactivity (such as tachycardia, rapid breathing and sweating). Lack of response to attempts by others to calm the night terror, followed by at least several minutes of disorientation and persistent movements. Forgetting afterwards, even if you can recall, it is very limited

Treatment options for night terrors in children

1. Arrange your baby's life regularly to avoid being too excited during the day

2. Don’t tell exciting stories or scary movies before bed, and don’t coax your baby with threats.

3. Let your baby fully relax before going to bed and fall asleep peacefully in a relaxed and happy mood. If necessary, you can also use less drugs that help calm the nerves and sleep.

Health Tips for Night Terrors in Children

Night terrors in children occur in 3% of babies, slightly more often in boys than in girls, and can occur at any stage of a baby's life.

1. Develop good work and rest habits and sleep hygiene (including not turning on the lights when sleeping, keeping indoor air circulation, sleeping in the right position, not eating too much before going to bed, etc.). Good work and rest habits help promote normal brain development.

2. Parents can provide targeted psychological counseling to their babies by telling stories and playing games, so that they can relieve anxiety, relax their body and mind, and cultivate their strong will and cheerful personality.

3. After going to bed, parents can talk to their babies affectionately or listen to some relaxing music together, which can often help babies fall asleep happily. This is a good way to avoid night terrors.

4. Moderately increasing the baby's exercise during the day can enhance physical fitness and promote the balance of brain neurotransmitters. In addition, the baby will be more active and tired during the day, and will fall asleep more easily at night, thus improving sleep quality.