Is my child having nightmares or night terrors, and what should I do?
Nightmares usually happen in the second half of the night: your child wakes, is scared, remembers the dream and wants comfort. Night terrors happen in deep sleep, usually early in the night: your child may scream or thrash but isn’t really awake and won’t remember it. Comfort after a nightmare. During a night terror, stay calm, keep your child safe, and wait.
How to tell them apart
| Nightmare | Night terror | |
|---|---|---|
| When | Second half of the night, when dreaming is most intense | Early in the night, during deep sleep |
| Your child | Wakes up and is scared | May cry out or move around, but is not really awake |
| Awareness | Awake and wants comfort | Asleep and unaware, so comfort may not register |
| Remembers it | Yes, can often describe the dream | No |
| Ages | Can start around 6 months; peak between 3 and 12 years | Most common in toddlers and preschoolers |
All of the timing and age information above comes from the AAP’s parent site.
What the AAP advises during a nightmare
- Go to your child quickly and comfort them.
- Reassure them they are safe.
- Let them talk about the dream if they want to, and remind them that dreams aren’t real.
- Leave a light on if it helps.
Night terrors and nightmares are a question for your pediatrician. Short, broken sleep, one of the listed triggers, is the part Actually Sleeping fixes.
What the AAP advises during a night terror
- Stay calm. The AAP notes your child is asleep and unaware. It is upsetting to watch, but your child is not experiencing it the way you are.
- Keep them safe. Move them away from anything they could hurt themselves on, and gently stop them if they try to get out of bed.
- Stay nearby until it passes and your child settles back into sleep.
- Don’t quiz them in the morning. They won’t remember it, and talking about it can make them worry.
- Tell babysitters. The AAP suggests letting other caregivers know so they are not alarmed.
What can trigger them
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says sleep terrors and sleepwalking share many of the same triggers, including:
- Not enough sleep
- Stress
- Travel and unfamiliar surroundings
- Noise or light during sleep
- Fever
- Some medications
- Sleep apnea
The AAP also advises no screens in the hour before bed, and scary stories and shows close to bedtime can feed nightmares.
Where sleep coaching fits
Actually Sleeping does not treat night terrors; they are a question for your pediatrician. But the first trigger on that list, not enough sleep, is common in toddlers. A child who fights bedtime for an hour, wakes several times a night or has dropped a nap too early may be running short of sleep night after night. That sleep is the part Actually Sleeping fixes. For babies and toddlers alike, Dr. Sam writes a plan that protects total sleep with the right bedtime and naps and a calm, predictable night, with bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and daily 1:1 check-ins. Parents of toddlers share their experience in reviews from families of children 12 months and older.
When to talk to the pediatrician
- Night terrors keep happening. The AAP advises talking with your child’s doctor.
- Your child snores loudly, gasps or stops breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea can trigger night terrors. See toddler snoring.
- Episodes are long, violent, or happen many times a night.
- Your child is very sleepy during the day.
- Nightmares are frequent and your child is anxious during the day too.
A note for parents
Night terrors can be frightening to watch, especially the first time. They are a common, usually passing part of early childhood. Some children also sleepwalk. See toddler sleepwalking.
If your toddler’s nights are short and broken, book a free consultation with Actually Sleeping.
Want this fixed for your baby?
Actually Sleeping is 1:1 coaching: a sleep plan written for your baby by Dr. Sam, bootcamp-style coaching before the first night, and daily check-ins until it is working. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee: 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or a full refund.
Frequently asked
Should I wake my child during a night terror?
The AAP advises staying calm and keeping your child safe from injury, because your child is asleep and unaware. Stay nearby until it passes. If night terrors keep happening, talk with your child’s doctor.
At what age do night terrors start?
The AAP says night terrors occur most often in toddlers and preschoolers. Nightmares are different: they can start around 6 months and tend to peak between 3 and 12 years.
Can a toddler’s night terrors be caused by being overtired?
Not enough sleep is one of the triggers the American Academy of Sleep Medicine lists. If your child is short on sleep because of bedtime battles or night waking, that is what a Actually Sleeping plan addresses. Talk with your pediatrician if night terrors keep happening.