«Mrs Hug, what can you do about sleepwalking and nightmares?»
Ms Hug, what can parents do if they notice unusual movements or behaviour in their child during sleep?
Such phenomena are not uncommon and are usually harmless. They are also referred to as parasomnias. This refers to behavioural abnormalities during sleep or during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. A discussion with the paediatrician can help to classify the observations. A video recording of the behaviour in question can be helpful for the paediatrician. In rare cases, an examination in a sleep laboratory may be necessary.
What are the typical parasomnias in children and adolescents?
The most common parasomnias at this age are sleepwalking, nightmares and sleep drunkenness. In the case of sleep drunkenness, which occurs most frequently between the ages of 3 and 13, children are disorientated for up to a quarter of an hour after waking up and do not react as usual because they wake up from a deep sleep phase or are woken up. If they get out of bed in such a state, this is also referred to as sleepwalking. Nightmares mainly occur in children between the ages of 6 and 10, but they can occur at any age.
What should parents bear in mind if their child has parasomnia?
Parasomnias are often favoured by a lack of sleep. Parents should therefore make sure that their child gets enough sleep and maintains a regular sleep-wake cycle.
What can you do about sleepwalking and nightmares?
When sleepwalking, it is important to secure the home, such as doors and windows, so that the child does not injure itself when walking around at night. Otherwise, parents should do as little as possible and not wake the child. Instead, they can talk to them reassuringly and gently lead them back to bed by the hand. If a child wakes up from a nightmare, it makes sense to switch on the light and talk to them calmly. Parents can also talk to their child about the dream and bring it to a good end together.
How does an examination in the sleep laboratory work?
The child sleeps in a specially equipped examination room. Various sensors are attached to the body to measure brain activity, eye movements, breathing and muscle tension. Sleep can also be recorded on video. In this way, breathing interruptions or other unusual behaviour can be recorded and their causes identified.
Read more about sleep:
- Schlaf, Teenager, schlaf
Bei Kindern und Jugendlichen kommen Schlafstörungen häufig vor – in unterschiedlicher Ausprägung. Wann sollten Eltern auf jeden Fall fachliche Unterstützung suchen? Und was können sie und ihr Kind für einen erholsamen Schlaf tun?
- So kommt Ihr Kindergartenkind zu genügend Schlaf
Der Kindergarteneintritt bedeutet viele Eindrücke. Diese zu verarbeiten, macht sogar die muntersten Kinder müde. Wir haben fünf Tipps, wie Ihr Kind zu einem erholsamen Schlaf kommt!