如果您是父母，那么您很可能会从睡眠中醒来到您的小孩子从卧室哭泣的声音。没有什么能让您感到无助的感觉，然后看到您的小眼睛在床上哭泣。
“Nightmares andnight terrorsare common for preschool-aged children, especially as their awareness of the world grows,” saidWalter Castro，医学博士，亚利桑那州Banner Health的儿科肺科医生和睡眠医学专家。主頁(欢迎您)“许多父母会因为听起来一样而感到困惑，但是两个睡眠条件却大不相同。”
如果您相信您的孩子正在经历噩梦或夜间恐怖，这就是如何区分两者以及如何帮助解决他们的方法。
What are nightmares?
Nightmares are scary dreams that can wake children up and make them afraid to go back to sleep. Your child may wake up feeling scared or upset, but they’ll respond to comfort and reassurance. They can usually remember bits and pieces of their nightmare the next morning.
What are night terrors?
Night terrors are disruptions from sleep with behaviors such as screaming, kicking, mumbling or sitting up in bed. During this event, your child can’t be awakened or comforted easily. They may even have their eyes open but won’t make eye contact with you. Often, they won’t remember what happened in the morning.
How are nightmares different from night terrors?
Nightmares and night terrors are both parasomnias, or disruptive sleep disorders, that can occur during REM-sleep (dreaming sleep) or non-REM (NREM) sleep, respectively. Other parasomnias include sleep talking and睡觉走路.
“The main distinguishable difference is that night terrors usually happen during the first part of the night, typically in the first four to five hours of sleep—depending on your child’s age,” Dr. Castro said. “Whereas, nightmares usually happen more on the second-half of the night where they have more REM-sleep as sleep architecture varies throughout the night.”
What causes nightmares and night terrors?
The most common causes for nightmares and night terrors are due to insufficient sleep and sleep disruptions, such as snoring, loud breathing during sleep, restlessness, nocturnal cough, seizures andsleep apnea.
How can I help my child?
如果您的孩子经历了噩梦或夜间恐怖，Castro博士提供了以下方式可以提供帮助。
For Nightmares
- 当您进入他们的房间时，请提供舒适，放心和依ugg。
- Give them a security blanket, toy or “lovie” if it normally provides them comfort.
- 让您的孩子回到自己的床上睡觉；不要养成他们在床上睡觉的习惯。
- If they’re comfortable, talk about their nightmare the next day to help them process.
卡斯特罗博士说：“通常，经过一场噩梦，您的孩子会花一点时间才能入睡。”“这是由于他们的中枢神经系统从不愉快的梦中引起了强烈的同情输出。坏梦会产生战斗或飞行的反应，需要时间才能平静。”
For Night Terrors
- When you enter their room, don’t try to wake them.
- 不要与他们互动，因为这会使事件变得更糟，更长时间。
- 保护您的孩子免受伤害。如果他们开始走路，请轻轻地将他们引导回他们的房间和床。确保所有的衣服和玩具都从地板上捡起，这样就不会掉下来。
- Be patient, your child should eventually relax and sleep quietly again.
- Prepare any babysitters or caretakers of what to do if it happens while you are away.
卡斯特罗博士说：“您能做的最好的事情是保持冷静。”“这可能非常可怕，尤其是对于新父母来说，如果您进来看到您的孩子似乎醒着但没有反应。只是坐在房间里等待。”
Additional ways you can help prevent nightmares and night terrors
- 建立一个放松,平静的睡眠routine—free of screen time.
- Set a regular bedtime each night and ensure they are getting an appropriate amount of sleep for their age.Check out these sleep recommendations.
- 考虑回到年幼的孩子的中午午睡。
When should I talk to the doctor?
“Parents can do certain things at home to make nightmares or night terrors better, but I encourage parents to always speak to their child’s doctor,” Dr. Castro said. “It’s the physician’s duty to find the root of the problem.”
Before the doctor’s appointment, it also doesn’t hurt to keep a sleep log and bring that with you to the appointment, so you and the doctor can dig into the potential causes. In certain cases, your child’s doctor may recommend your child see a pediatric sleep medicine specialist for further evaluation. To find a小儿睡眠专家near you, visitbannerhealth.com.
Additional Help:
- Is Melatonin Safe for My Child?
- How to Help Your Child Cope with Stress
- Is My Toddler Sleeping Enough?
