How To Finally Stop Night Terrors In Children

The first time my son, Max, had a night terror, I was completely caught off guard. I still remember that evening vividly.

We had just put him to bed after a peaceful family movie night, and I was enjoying a rare moment of quiet in the living room.

Then, I heard it — a blood-curdling scream coming from his bedroom. I raced upstairs to find him thrashing, crying out, and staring right through me.

My heart sank. He looked terrified, but when I tried to comfort him, it was like he didn’t even know I was there.

For any parent who has experienced this, you know how helpless and confused you feel.

I tried everything I could think of: soothing music, a new bedtime routine, and even changing his sleep environment, but nothing seemed to make a difference.

I spent countless nights Googling, talking to other moms, and trying every trick in the book until we finally found a combination that worked.

If you’re reading this, you might be in the same boat. But there is hope — I promise. Here’s what finally helped us conquer night terrors and restore some sanity to our evenings.

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Tips To Stop Night Terrors In Kids

1. Create a Calm Bedtime Routine

A solid bedtime routine is essential, especially for children who are prone to night terrors. Start winding down at least an hour before bedtime.

This means dimming the lights, turning off screens, and engaging in calming activities like reading or storytelling.

We found that incorporating a weighted blanket into Max’s routine made a huge difference.

The gentle pressure helped his body relax, making it easier for him to transition into a deep, peaceful sleep.

2. Address Any Underlying Sleep Disorders

Night terrors are often linked to underlying sleep issues.

For Max, it turned out that his night terrors were partly due to sleep apnea, which was disrupting his sleep cycles.

It might be worth discussing with your child’s doctor or a sleep specialist. They may suggest a sleep monitor to track your child’s sleep patterns and help identify any anomalies.

3. Consider Natural Sleep Aids

Sometimes, children experience night terrors because they’re not getting enough restorative sleep.

Natural sleep aids like melatonin gummies can be helpful, but always check with your pediatrician before introducing any new supplements.

We found that using calming essential oils in a diffuser was another great option. Lavender, in particular, seemed to help Max settle down more easily.

4. Maintain Consistency

Night terrors can be a sign of an overwhelmed nervous system, often triggered by changes in routine or environment.

Sticking to a consistent bedtime, even on weekends, can reduce these occurrences. We also made sure Max’s bedroom environment was as cozy and familiar as possible, adding a nightlight with a soft, soothing glow.

The more predictable his sleep space was, the safer he felt drifting off.

5. Create a Soothing Sleep Environment

Sometimes, tweaking the sleep environment is all it takes. Blackout curtains, a white noise machine, and the right memory foam mattress can make a world of difference.

Max used to sleep on a standard mattress, but once we switched to a high-quality memory foam mattress, his night terrors almost completely disappeared. The added comfort and support helped him achieve deeper sleep.

6. Be There But Don’t Intervene

It’s natural to want to wake your child up or shake them out of a night terror, but this can actually make it worse.

Instead, just be there for them. Sit beside them, gently stroke their arm, and speak softly until it passes. Most importantly, don’t discuss the night terror in the morning.

They usually won’t remember the episode and bringing it up can cause unnecessary anxiety.

7. Keep a Sleep Diary

Track what time the night terrors usually occur.

For some children, waking them up about 15 minutes before the expected time and keeping them awake for a few minutes can prevent the episode from happening at all.

This trick, called scheduled awakening, worked wonders for us. I kept a sleep diary to pinpoint the exact times, and it gave us a better understanding of his sleep patterns.

8. Stay Patient

It’s easy to feel discouraged and drained when your child is experiencing night terrors. Just know that this phase won’t last forever.

Patience, consistency, and a little trial and error will help you find what works best for your child. Remember, night terrors are more distressing for the parents than they are for the child.

Eventually, your little one will outgrow them, and everyone will be sleeping soundly again.

Night terrors are terrifying to witness, but you’re not alone. Just take a deep breath, hug your child a little tighter, and start incorporating some of these strategies into your routine. Soon, bedtime will be a peaceful, bonding time for both of you.

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