The National Sleep Foundation notes, “The prevalence of sleepwalking is much higher for children, especially those between the ages of three and seven. . .”
When children sleepwalk, they may do things like roam around the room; open windows and doors; move objects; and in more severe cases, run around screaming at the top of their lungs.
There are a number of things that can trigger sleepwalking episodes in a child including genetic disposition, a full bladder, bedwetting, illness, fever, stress, certain medications, and sleep apnea.
According to the Nemours Foundation, children who sleepwalk may also:
- sleep talk
- be hard to wake up
- seem dazed
- be clumsy
- not respond when spoken to
- sit up in bed and go through repeated motions, such as rubbing their eyes or fussing with their pajamas
How to Deal with a Child Who Sleepwalks
When children sleepwalk, they are unaware of their surroundings and have no clue what they’re doing. So to prevent them from being injured, their environment should be made as safe as possible.
Put an alarm on the child’s bedroom door. This will alert an adult whenever the child is outside of his room. Remove all dangerous objects such as glass, scissors, and chemicals out of the child’s sleeping area. Close and lock all the windows and doors that lead outside. Also, keep the floor clear of clutter – including toys and unnecessary furniture.
Instead of scaring a sleepwalking child by waking him up, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests parents gently guiding the sleeping child back to his bed.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for sleepwalking; children simply have to outgrow the disorder. However, there are some things parents can do to help a child who suffers from sleepwalking get a better night’s rest.
- Create a bedtime routine for your kid and stick to it.
- Keep electronics such as computers and television sets out of your child’s bedroom.
- Minimize the amount of light in the room during bedtime.
- Keep the temperature comfortable.
- Eliminate caffeine from your child’s diet.
- Reduce the amount of high-energy activities a child engages in before bedtime.
- Make sure children use the restroom before they go to bed.
Medical intervention is not usually necessary for children who sleepwalk as this common sleep disorder generally subsides once children enter into their early teen years. If your child's sleepwalking episodes happen frequently, contact his pediatrician as he may be able to suggest ways to make the sleep disorder more manageable.
References:
The American Academy of Pediatrics. Accessed 12-24-08
Nemours Foundation. Accessed 12-24-08
The National Sleep Foundation. Accessed 12-24-08
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