最佳答案DealingwithNighttimeTerrors:StrategiesforParentsNighttimeterrors,alsoknownassleepterrorsorpavornocturnus,areatypeofsleepdisorderthatmaybeaterrifyingexperiencefo...
DealingwithNighttimeTerrors:StrategiesforParents
Nighttimeterrors,alsoknownassleepterrorsorpavornocturnus,areatypeofsleepdisorderthatmaybeaterrifyingexperienceforbothchildrenandparentsalike.Althoughrelativelyuncommon,itcanbedistressingtoseeachildinthemiddleofanighttimeterrorepisode.Fortunately,thereareseveralstrategiesthatparentscanusetosupporttheirchildrenandhelpthemfeelsafe.
UnderstandingNighttimeTerrors
Nighttimeterrorsarenotthesameasnightmares.Whilenightmaresmaycauseachildtoawakenandvividlyrecallafrighteningdream,nighttimeterrorsoccurduringdeepnon-REMsleep.Thismeansthatalthoughyourchildmayappeartobeawake,theyareactuallystillasleepandunawareoftheirsurroundings.Duringanighttimeterrorepisode,achildmayscream,cry,thrash,andexhibitintenseemotionslikefear,panic,orconfusion.Theymayalsoexhibitphysicalsymptomslikerapidbreathing,sweating,andanelevatedheartrate.
Althoughnighttimeterrorscanbeunsettlingtowitness,theyarenotusuallyacauseforconcernanddonotindicateanunderlyingpsychologicalproblem.Mostchildrenoutgrownighttimeterrorsbyadolescence,andtheepisodesaretypicallynotremembereduponawakening.
CopingStrategiesforParents
Asaparent,itcanbeheart-wrenchingtoseeyourchildinthethroesofanighttimeterror.However,therearestrategiesthatyoucanusetohelpbothyouandyourchildcopewiththeseepisodes:
- Remaincalm:Itisimportanttostaycalmduringanighttimeterrorepisodesinceyourchildmaynotbeabletorecognizethattheyarebeingcomforted.Ratherthantryingtowakethemuporshakethemoutoftheepisode,ensurethattheyaresafeandlettheepisodepass.
- Createacalmingbedtimeroutine:Establishingaconsistentandcalmingbedtimeroutinecanhelpyourchildfeelmorerelaxedandsecureatnight.Considerincorporatingactivitieslikeawarmbath,storytime,orsoftmusictohelpyourchildwinddownbeforebed.
- Reducestressors:Sincenighttimeterrorscanbetriggeredbystressoroverstimulation,trytoreduceanystressorsinyourchild'senvironment.Forexample,limitscreentimebeforebed,keepthebedroomcoolandquiet,andavoidanystimulatingactivitiesclosetobedtime.
WhentoSeekHelp
Althoughmostnighttimeterrorsarenotacauseforconcern,thereareinstancesinwhichyoumayneedtoseekhelpfromamedicalprofessional.Considergettingintouchwithyourpediatricianif:
- Yourchild'snighttimeterrorscontinuepasttheageof12.
- Yourchild'sepisodesareveryfrequentandlastformorethan20minutes.
- Yourchild'sepisodesarebecomingincreasinglyintenseorviolent.
- Yourchildexhibitssleepwalking,talking,orothersleep-relatedbehaviors.
Yourpediatriciancanhelpyoudeterminewhetherfurtherevaluationmaybenecessaryandprovideyouwithadditionalsupportandresources.
Whilenighttimeterrorscanbefrighteningforbothchildrenandparents,itisimportanttorememberthattheyaretypicallyharmlessandwilleventuallyresolveontheirown.Bystayingcalm,creatingacalmingbedtimeroutine,andreducingstressors,parentscanhelptheirchildnavigatethroughtheseepisodesandfeelsafeandsecureatnight.
