Anna Baker on ABC Brisbane: Night Terrors, Sleepwalking & Supporting Your Child’s Sleep
It can be unsettling to watch your child struggle with sleep, whether they are a baby just learning the ropes or an older child growing up fast. These behaviours look very different depending on the age of your child, but understanding what is happening can help you feel less helpless in the moment.
If you have an older child, particularly between the ages of 8 and 12, you might be dealing with sleepwalking. This age range is actually the peak time for these issues because their nervous system is going through a massive growth spurt. It is sometimes referred to as a premature development of the sleep-wake cycle, where the brain gets a little glitchy when trying to switch between deep sleep and waking up.
There are several triggers that can set this off, including hitting new developmental milestones, general stress and anxiety, or simply being over-tired. Physical irritants like worms ( this is normal so don't panic) can also disturb their sleep enough to cause wandering. For some kids, food additives can overstimulate their system. If you find your child walking around, they will likely have a blank stare. Do not try to have a conversation with them, as they won't make sense and it might confuse them more. Just gently guide them back to their room and help them into bed. Even staying with them until they are relaxed.
On the other hand, babies experience something different known as night terrors. These almost always happen in the first half of the night, often within a few hours of falling asleep. Your baby might suddenly scream or cry so hard that it scares you, and it can be heartbreaking to watch.
The most confusing part is that they might look like they are awake. Their eyes might be open and they might be moving around, but they are not really there. They are stuck in a deep sleep state. Because they aren't actually awake, you cannot reason with them or talk them down. Trying to wake them up usually makes the crying worse.
The best thing you can do is just be a gentle presence or holding. Sit nearby to ensure they don't hurt themselves and simply wait for it to pass. It feels like an eternity, but they will eventually settle down and go back to a peaceful sleep. The next day they wont even remember it!
Anna had a chat with ABC Brisbane, hear the entire chat.
Copy and paste the link below!
https://youtu.be/im8DRoJg2IY
