Night terrors are a type of parasomnia — dramatic night-time events in which a child suddenly screams, cries or appears terrified, yet is still in deep sleep and has no memory of it in the morning. Although frightening to watch, they are usually harmless, common in early childhood and tend to fade on their own. Unlike nightmares, night terrors happen in deep (non-REM) sleep and the child cannot be comforted during the event. Our online clinic supports families across the UK.
What are night terrors?
A child having a night terror may suddenly scream, cry or look extremely frightened. During the event the child can seem confused or drowsy, mumble unclear words, give answers that don’t match your questions, and sometimes sit up, get out of bed, walk or push. Despite this dramatic appearance, the child is not aware of their behaviour and does not remember the event in the morning.
It is important to understand that although the child looks awake, they are in fact in deep sleep. Night terrors usually last between 5 and 10 minutes, sometimes longer. One of the hardest parts for parents is being unable to settle the child during the event — attempts to wake or comfort them can actually make the intensity worse.
Night terrors are not nightmares and do not involve dreaming. They also do not indicate an emotional or psychological problem, and they do not cause psychological harm to the child.
What are confusional arousals?
A similar night-time behaviour is called confusional arousals. These events usually last 5–15 minutes, occasionally longer. They are characterised by irritability, confusion, crying or a lot of movement in bed, and they tend to come on more gradually than night terrors.
When and to whom do night terrors happen?
Night terrors usually appear about one to two hours after a child falls asleep, during the deep (non-REM) stage of sleep. They are more common in early childhood and in most cases disappear on their own by adolescence. There is often a family history of night terrors.
What’s the difference between night terrors and nightmares?
- Timing: Night terrors occur early in the night, in deep (non-REM) sleep, whereas nightmares occur during dream (REM) sleep, usually in the later hours of the night.
- Memory: Children having night terrors do not remember the event, whereas with a nightmare the child usually remembers the dream.
You can read more about the differences on our nightmares page.
What causes night terrors in children?
Night terrors in children can be influenced by a range of factors:
- Genetics — a family tendency towards night terrors.
- Stress and anxiety — emotional load, significant changes or tension.
- Sleep deprivation — insufficient sleep or irregular hours.
- Fever and illness — night terrors may appear during an illness.
- Certain medicines — particularly those affecting the nervous system.
- Irregular sleep hours.
- Other sleep disorders — such as breathing problems during sleep.
- Sleeping in an unfamiliar setting — staying away from home or a change of sleep environment.
What are the symptoms of night terrors?
- A sudden onset during deep sleep.
- Intense fear, crying or screaming.
- No response to attempts to soothe.
- Physical movement: kicking, thrashing or getting out of bed.
- A sudden end and a return to calm sleep, with no memory of the event.
What should parents do during a night terror?
- Safety first — remove dangerous objects and prevent injury.
- Do not wake the child — trying to wake them can increase confusion and distress.
- A calm, consistent bedtime routine — helps reduce how often events happen.
- Address stress and anxiety — through gentle conversation, reassurance and relaxation techniques.
- Seek a professional assessment — when night terrors are frequent, very intense or affect quality of life.
In summary
Night terrors in children are a challenging and sometimes alarming experience, but in most cases they are not dangerous and do not require urgent medical intervention. A proper understanding of what is happening, patience and the right guidance allow a family to cope calmly and safely, and to improve the child’s sleep and overall wellbeing. Where night terrors are frequent or distressing, behavioural treatment — which is evidence-based and drug-free — can help, often by improving the child’s overall sleep and reducing the triggers behind the events.
This online clinic is led by Dr Jonathan Kushnir, a clinical psychologist (HCPC PYL042430) whose doctorate examined sleep disorders and night-time fears in children, with more than 25 academic publications and 17 books.