Night terrors in toddlers can be really frightening for anyone to witness. One second your little one is sound asleep and the next they are screaming, eyes wide open, and looking right through you. It’s natural to feel helpless in the moment, but rest assured, night terrors in toddlers are common and they do not cause any pain – in fact, your toddler likely will have no memory of it the next day!
In this article we cover what causes night terrors in childhood, how to spot the signs, how they differ from nightmares, and what you can do to help reduce how often they happen.
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What are Night Terrors in Toddlers?
Night terrors in toddlers are episodes of intense distress that happen during the deepest stages of sleep, usually within the first few hours of falling asleep.
Unlike nightmares, night terrors are not caused by frightening dreams. They happen in a stage of deep sleep called non-rapid eye movement (NREM) when dreaming doesn’t occur at all.
During an episode of childhood night terrors your toddler may appear awake but can’t fully respond to you and won’t have any memory of it the next morning. It also may present as your toddler crying in sleep but not waking fully. Think of it like coming out of anesthesia – your toddler is caught between sleep and wakefulness, which is why trying to comfort them mid-episode often doesn't work.
Night terrors in toddlers are more common than parents may realize. Research shows night terrors affect between 16% and 20% of toddlers between the age of 12 and 36 months. However, night terrors in kids are more common between ages 3 and 7.
If your toddler is younger than 18-months-old and wakes up screaming, it’s more likely to be a nightmare, a sleep regression, or just general discomfort – it’s more likely to be night terrors in preschoolers and older.
What are Causes of Night Terrors in Toddlers?
Causes of night terrors in toddlers can vary. Often, they’re linked to how well your toddler has been sleeping or something stressful happening in their day, but sometimes they seem to come out of nowhere.
Causes of night terrors can include:
- Overtiredness or Irregular Sleep Schedule: When toddlers don't get enough sleep or their schedules are inconsistent, their body compensates with more intense deep sleep, which is when night terrors happen.
- Sleep Regressions: The 18-month and 24-month sleep regressions can cause a temporary disruption in sleep quality, so night terrors may be more likely to pop up around these ages. Many triggers come down to where your toddler is developmentally, which oftentimes are outgrown with time. To learn more about what your toddler is going through at each age, check out our milestone guides.
- Stress or Big Life Changes Starting daycare or school, a new sibling, potty training, or moving homes can all cause a toddler some level of stress. Separation anxiety can also be a cause.
- Illness or Fever: Feeling under the weather can disrupt sleep and trigger a night terror. Check out of our tips for getting a sick little one to sleep to mitigate what you can.
- Sleeping Somewhere New: An unfamiliar sleep environment, whether traveling or just transitioning from crib to a toddler bed or even rooms, can be enough to throw off their sleep.
- A Full Bladder: For toddlers starting to potty train, encouraging a trip to the bathroom right before bed can help.
- Family History: If you or your partner ever experienced night terrors or sleepwalking as a child, your toddler may be more prone to them.
- Certain Medications: Speak with your child’s healthcare provider if you have any concerns about medications and their sleep.
Why do kids have night terrors isn’t always easy to pinpoint – but an inconsistent sleep schedule or overtiredness can play some of the biggest roles. If your toddler’s schedule feels off, bedtime is a struggle, or you’re wondering if it’s time to drop a nap, Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app can be your guide.
Signs Night Terrors in Toddlers
The signs and symptoms of night terrors in toddlers can differ from child to child. However, during a night terror your child might:
- Cry or scream inconsolably
- Have a confused, or glassy-eyed expression, where they appear to be looking right at you without seeing you
- Thrash around, kick, or sit upright in bed
- Try to climb out of bed or push you away if you try to hold them
- Shake or tremble
- Sweat
- Breathe rapidly or hyperventilate
- Have a noticeably racing heart
In very rare cases that your toddler’s movement looks like rhythmic jerking or stiffening, contact your child’s healthcare provider immediately. Seizures can occasionally be mistaken for night terrors.
How long do night terrors last?
Most childhood night terrors last just a few minutes but can occasionally go on for as long as 45 minutes. Once it’s over, your toddler will likely fall right back to sleep on their own. As frightening as it looks, your little one is not in any pain.
How to Tell the Difference Between Night Terrors and Nightmares in Toddlers
Night terrors and nightmares are two very different experiences and telling them apart can help you respond the right way. The key difference is nightmares are bad dreams your toddler can be woken from while night terrors are a semi-conscious state your toddler can't be woken up from and won’t remember. Both are common, normal parts of a toddler's development.
One upside of night terrors over a nightmare is that since your toddler never fully wakes, settling back to sleep is usually much easier. After a nightmare in babies and toddlers, they may be more reluctant to fall back asleep and need more comfort.
What to Do When Your Toddler Has a Night Terror Episode
Watching your toddler have a night terror can be tough but knowing what to do and how to respond can help. If you’re wondering how to stop night terrors in toddlers, the reality is they can’t be stopped in the moment – but your approach can help your toddler move through it more quickly.
Stay calm
Your little one isn’t in pain and they aren’t scared. It’s hard to watch but it will pass on its own.
Do not try to wake them
This is the most important thing to remember. Trying to wake a toddler mid-night terror usually makes it more intense and confusing, and much harder for them to settle back down.
Keep them safe
Stay nearby and make sure your toddler can’t hurt themselves. If they are thrashing, a gentle hand on their arms or legs is enough to help. If they try to climb out of bed, quietly guide them back in.
Speak softly
They may not respond, but speaking in a calm, low voice can still help to settle their nervous system.
Wait it out
Most night terrors resolve on their own within a few minutes. Once it’s over, they will fall back to sleep as if nothing happened.
Don't bring it up in the morning
Since they don’t have any memory of the episode, there’s nothing to reassure them about. Bringing it up can introduce fear where there was none before.
How to Prevent Night Terrors in Toddlers
While there is no guaranteed way to stop night terrors, experts say the most effective thing you can do is focus on the core sleep fundamentals which make sure your toddler has healthy sleep habits.
For healthy sleep habits in toddlers, that means:
- Prioritizing Enough Sleep: When toddlers are overtired, they tend to fall into a deeper sleep than usual, which is exactly when night terrors are most likely to happen. Make sure your toddler is getting enough sleep for their age.
- Keeping a Consistent Bedtime Routine: A bedtime routine where you do the same things in the same order every night, like bath, book, and bed, helps your toddler's nervous system transition into sleep more smoothly. Want help creating a bedtime routine? Take a free sleep assessment to get your personalized plan.
- Optimizing the Sleep Environment: A dark, quiet room between 68-72 °F (20-22 °C) is best for sleep. Hot bedrooms are a known trigger for night terrors.
- Avoiding Caffeine and Screens Near Bedtime: Caffeine and screen time too close to bedtime can disrupt sleep in toddlers. Caffeine shows up in more places than you might expect, including in chocolate, so keep an eye on what your toddler has in the hours leading up to bed.
- Encouraging Active Play: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends toddlers get at least 180 minutes of physical activity each day. Playtime during wake hours helps build healthy tiredness in your toddler which leads to more restful, stable nighttime sleep.
- Download a Sleep Tracking App: Millions of parents have downloaded Smart Sleep Coach by PampersTM which automatically adjusts your toddler’s schedule based on how they sleep each day – staying aligned with their circadian rhythm and helping them fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and reduce overtiredness that can lead to night terrors.
Final Thoughts
Night terrors in toddlers can be scary to watch, but they are harmless and a normal part of development for many children. Most toddlers outgrow them entirely on their own, and with the right sleep habits in place, you can help reduce their frequency in the meantime.
If your toddler is having night terrors and you think their sleep schedule may be contributing, download the Smart Sleep Coach by Pampers™ app. It creates an age-specific schedule that syncs with your toddler’s sleep patterns and adjusts with every nap and bedtime. If you have concerns around your child’s sleep or development, reach out to your healthcare provider for more persoanlized guidance.
