As a baby sleep consultant, it is common to be asked about sleep disturbances, or Parasomnias.
During changing phases in the sleep cycle, it sometimes happens that a child gets “stuck” between being awake and being asleep. This can result in some strange behaviour! As the child is not fully awake he will not remember the incident in the morning. Known as Parasomnias, these weird things that happen during sleep usually occur within 1 – 2 hours of falling asleep. Some children have them often, and they can be predictably at the same time of night. The child will not want comfort, and may even struggle or scream more if you try. Make sure they are safe, but don’t interfere or try to wake them.
If your child experiences a confusional arousal he may appear awake, but will not seem to know you are there. He may cry out and thrash around, talk incoherently or moan. He may resist any efforts to comfort him. Usually he will eventually calm down and return to sleep (anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour).
Sleepwalking peaks between ages 4 and 8. Sometimes a child may walk around and go back to sleep in a different part of the house, carry on a muddled conversation, or (particularly boys) urinate in a cupboard or other strange place. His eyes will be open, but look vacant.
Sleep terrors are distressing to witness. Most common in 5 – 7 year olds, your child may scream or shout and look terrified. Her pupils may be dilated, she will breathe rapidly, have a racing heart, and may be sweating. She may run out of the room or out of the house. She may hurt herself or someone else who tries to calm her. Easily distinguished from a nightmare, the child will not remember a night terror in the morning, when she will a nightmare. Night terrors occur in the first few hours after falling asleep, nightmares closer to morning. Nightmares occur during REM sleep, when you cannot sit up, yell out, or run around. Sleep terrors occur during non-REM sleep, so your child is not dreaming when they happen.
These weird occurrences do not indicate any psychological problem with your child. She is not anxious, depressed, or having a hallucination.
Some possible causes: Sleep deprivation – can be caused by a stressful time, or simply being overtired; fever or illness; sleeping in a strange place; other sleep disorders, e.g. sleep apnea; genetics (it runs in families).
Nightmares and Parasomnias can be frightening for everyone.
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD:
Keep him safe: Be aware of any hazards and try to minimize any risks, eg. shift furniture or anything on the floor he may trip over, put a gate on stairs, sleep child on first floor if there is a danger of falling out a window, lock doors and windows. Put an alarm or bell on his door so you will wake up.
Don’t wake him but try to guide him back to bed if you can without upsetting him. Otherwise try not to interfere (unless he is about to hurt himself).
Increase his sleep – move bedtime earlier and increase naptime if he still has one.
Keep a consistent bedtime and wake up time every day.
Don’t discuss the event the next day – he won’t remember it, and it may make him anxious about falling asleep.
If you would like some help from experienced baby sleep consultants, please take a look at our packages to see which one would suit your needs. We would love to help you and your child overcome their sleep disturbances.
By Paulette Fawcett
Christchurch and North Canterbury baby sleep consultant