Published by Actually Sleeping · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD · Review policy · Updated 2026-11-10

My toddler sleepwalks. Is it dangerous, and should I wake them?

Sleepwalking can start as soon as a child can walk. It usually happens in the first third of the night and tends to run in families. Don’t try to wake or hold your child down; gently lead them back to bed. The main risk is injury, so lock outside doors and windows, gate stairs and the bedroom doorway, and clear the floor.

What sleepwalking is

A sleepwalking child gets up and moves around while still asleep. They may sit up, walk around or talk. The AAP’s parent site says sleepwalkers usually return to bed on their own and often don’t remember it in the morning.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) says:

Sleepwalking can start as soon as a child is able to walk.
Rates in children are as high as 17%, peaking around ages 8 to 12.
It most often happens in the first third of the night.

The AAP’s parent site adds that sleepwalking tends to run in families.

During an episode

Don’t try to wake them or hold them down. The AASM and AAP both advise gently leading your child back to bed instead.
Speak softly and keep it simple.
Guide, don’t pull. A light hand on the shoulder is enough.
Stay calm. Your child is not aware of what is happening.

Sleepwalking itself is a question for your pediatrician. Short or broken sleep, one of the listed triggers, is the part Actually Sleeping fixes.

Make the home safe

Injury is the real risk. The AASM and AAP recommend:

Hazard	What to do
Getting outside	Lock outside doors and windows at night.
Stairs	A safety gate at the top of the stairs and at the bedroom doorway.
Tripping	Keep floors clear of toys and clutter.
Sharp or breakable items	Keep them out of the bedroom.
Bunk beds	No top bunk for a child who sleepwalks.

A simple bell on the bedroom door, or a monitor, can tell you when your child is up. Check the route from the bedroom to the rest of the house in the dark once, the way your child would walk it.

Triggers

The AASM lists triggers that sleepwalking shares with sleep terrors, including:

Not enough sleep
Stress
Travel and unfamiliar surroundings
Noise or light during sleep
Fever
Some medications
Sleep apnea

The AASM recommends 11 to 14 hours per 24 hours for children 1 to 2 years and 10 to 13 hours for 3 to 5 year olds, including naps. Many toddlers fall short of that without anyone noticing: a late bedtime after a long battle, several night wakings, a nap dropped too early.

Where sleep coaching fits

Actually Sleeping does not treat sleepwalking; that is a question for your pediatrician. What Actually Sleeping does fix is the sleep around it. For babies and toddlers alike, Dr. Sam writes a plan that protects total sleep with a bedtime and nap set for your child, and a calm, predictable night instead of repeated wakings and battles. You get 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.

The next day

Your child won’t remember the episode. There is no need to tell them about it or ask them to explain. Treat it as a quiet, practical safety matter.

Sleepwalking vs other night events

Night terrors often involve crying or screaming early in the night without waking. They share triggers with sleepwalking and some children have both. See nightmares vs night terrors.
Getting out of bed while awake is a behavior question, not sleepwalking. See when your toddler won’t stay in bed.

When to talk to the pediatrician

The AASM says children usually don’t need treatment. Talk with your pediatrician if:

Episodes are frequent or your child has been hurt.
Your child snores, gasps or stops breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is one of the listed triggers; see toddler snoring.
Your child is very sleepy during the day.
Episodes involve unusual, repeated movements, or something else about them worries you.

If your toddler’s sleep is short or 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.

Book your free consultation → See what families say

Frequently asked

Is it dangerous to wake a sleepwalking toddler?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the AAP both advise against trying to wake or hold down a sleepwalking child. Gently lead them back to bed instead, and make the home safe so a night-time walk can’t lead to injury.

How common is sleepwalking in children?

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says rates in children are as high as 17%, peaking around ages 8 to 12. It can start as soon as a child is able to walk and tends to run in families.

Can lack of sleep cause sleepwalking?

Not getting enough sleep is one of the triggers the American Academy of Sleep Medicine lists. If your toddler is short on sleep because of bedtime battles or night waking, that is the part a Actually Sleeping plan fixes. Talk to your pediatrician about frequent episodes.