Nightmares and night terrors, what is the difference
"Good evening", after hearing this phrase from the little ones the best thing would be that the next thing they said was "Good Morning", a sign that there has been a good night's sleep. However, sometimes between one sentence and another it appears: "Daddy, Mommy, I'm scared".
It is inevitable to have some bad dream that makes the little ones of the house wake up scared at night and want to resort to their parents to calm down. In these situations it is possible that this sensation was caused by a night terror or a nightmare. You have to know how to differentiate them in order to act in the best possible way.
Nightmares, generate a high level of fear
The Spanish Pediatric Association defines the nightmares as complex daydreams that provoke fear or anxiety in children. When they occur, the child wakes up very upset and is able to describe in detail the dream that he just had, as if he had just really experienced it. A characteristic that generates a high level of fear by not knowing how to differentiate the dream world from the real one.
They can happen throughout the night, however they are more likely to happen in the last third and conclude with the awakening of the child when your alarm clock sounds or at an hour close to this moment. In case they occur before the child returns to sleep, it is very complicated given the level of nervousness and alteration reached.
Its beginning usually occurs around the three and six years and they appear more frequently between six and ten years. The biggest problem with nightmares is that by causing such a level of fear in children, many of them refuse to go to sleep because they associate sleep with the appearance of these episodes of terror. For this reason parents should try to make their children relax this level of tension.
The first thing to do is reassure children, make them understand that everything was a dream and that they are really safe at home away from those fears that assailed them when they slept. It is also advisable to provide them with an object that gives them security like a stuffed animal that acts as a protector or a low intensity light that makes them see that they are in their room once they wake up scared.
At the moment it is best to prevent the child from remembering this episode and reassure himself as soon as possible so that he can return to To fall asleep. The next day the pediatricians recommend that the youngest draw this story although this time the parents can recommend an alternative ending to this terrifying narrative.
Night terrors, they end with a scream
Unlike nightmares, night terrors are brief episodes of fear that in most cases do not wake the children and end with a shout or spasm that indicates that this episode is occurring. It is best to let the little ones sleep and not interfere even if the child manifests symptoms of having abandoned the dream: eyes open and stare.
They can be due to febrile episodes, irregular sleep schedules or the intake of some drugs. Family history also helps to understand its appearance. The best thing in these cases is not to interfere in the sleep of the little ones and let them sleep, making sure that there is nothing in the vicinity of their beds that could harm the child. shake and convulse.
Night terrors usually disappear by themselves over the years. Although if they interfere in the health of children and prevent a good night's sleep, You have to consult a specialist to remedy this problem as soon as possible.
Sleep hygiene: how to get a good rest
Sometimes these episodes are due to bad sleep hygiene that ends up provoking these situations in the little ones. Day by day you can work to get a good rest in these ways:
- No movies or series in the moments before bed. The arguments of these contents can accompany the children in their dreams, it is best to read a happy and friendly story.
- Activities relaxing Making the child go to bed with a sense of tranquility is the best. A bath, a quiet family game, a friendly story, all these options are correct.
Damián Montero
