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Night Terrors in Children

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All parents have comforted their child after the occasional nightmare. But if your child has ever experienced what's known as a night terror (or sleep terror), his or her fear was likely inconsolable, no matter what you tried. A child experiencing a night terror will wake in a lucid state of panic and be irrationally terrified for several minutes. Causes seem to vary as much as the child's actions during a terror episode, but doctors have determined that night terrors themselves are not a danger to children. Please share your experiences about your child's night terrors.
How old is your child who is experiencing night terrors?
0 to 3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18+
What is the child's gender?
Male
Female
How often do they experience night terrors?
Almost nightly
A few nights a week
Once a week
Once biweelky
Once monthly
Once every two or three months
Once every six months
Once ever year
Less than once a year
What is involved in their terror episodes?
Screaming
Murmering
Repeating themselves
Shaking or trembling
Sweating or a fever
Vomiting
Urination
Defecation
Thrashing around
Sitting up in bed
Running or fleeing
Crying
Other
How long do these episodes usually last?
<5 minutes
5 to 15 minutes
15 to 30 minutes
Up to an hour
Longer than an hour
After an episode what does your child do?
Remain lucid and go right back to sleep
Remain lucid but awake enough to walk around
Fully wake up and calm down
Fully wake up but be very worked up and unable to sleep right away
Other
Is your child responsive during these episodes?
They don't seem to know I'm there
They somewhat register I am there
They know I'm there and answer me
It varies
Other
Do they ever remember being in that lucid state of terror?
Yes, most times
Sometimes
Never
Many Children experience other sleep disorders that may or may not cause or be caused by night terrors. Which of the following does your child also suffer from?
Bruxism (Grinding or gritting teeth during sleep)
Sleepwalking
Bedwetting
Frequent nightmares or vivid dreaming
Frequent tossing and turning, kicking, rolling, or falling out of bed
Sleep apnea
Other
If your child suffers from bruxism during sleep, what is done to deal with it?
Nothing
They wear a mouth guard
Medication
Destressing exercises before bed
Avoiding certain foods
Special pillow placement to maintain a better posture during sleep
Other
If your child sleepwalks, what is involved in a sleepwalking episode?
Talking
Searching for the toilet
The child tries to get outside
The child fiddles with objects
The child stands and stares off into space
The child undresses or changes clothes
Running
Other
How do you prevent or deal with a sleepwalking episode?
Monitor the child so they don't hurt themselves
Wake the child
Leave the child asleep
Guide them to their bed
Ensure doors to outside are locked
Lock their bedroom door
Guide them or help them to the toilet
Restrain them to their bed
Carry them back to bed
Dress them if they've wet themselves
Other
If they bedwet, is it generally only when experiencing a night terror?
Yes
No
If they bedwet, what is done to deal with it?
Rubber or plastic sheets on their bed.
A mattress pad on top of their sheets
Get them up in the night to pee
A bedwetting alarm
A cloth diaper or training pants is worn
Pull-ups of some variety are worn
The child puts a fastenable diaper on
You dress them in a diaper
They wear vinyl or plastic pants
A towel is laid on their bed
Fluids are limited before bed
Medication
Nothing
Other
If they've wet themselves during a night terror, what do you do to clean them up?
Bath them
Have the bath themselves
Dress them as they are still lucid are back asleep
Help them change clothes
Change their sheets
Leave the bed wet
Leave the child in wet clothes or diaper/pull-ups/etc.
Strip off their wet clothes and let them sleep naked
Let them sleep with you
Change their pull-ups
Change their diaper
Dress them in a diaper/pull-ups even if they don't wear that to bed, so as to prevent further accidents
Nothing
Other
If they have frequent nightmares, what is done to deal with it?
Calming exercises before bed
Wake them if they are visibly having a nightmare
Avoid frightening media
Medication
Avoid certain foods
Sleep in your bed
Night light
Nothing
Other
If they constantly toss and turn in their sleep, what is done to deal with it?
Rails on bed so they don't fall out
Tucked in tightly so they can't move too much
Child is woken if in a tossing fit
Nothing
Other
If your child has sleep apnea, what symptoms do they show?
Snoring
Choking or gasping
Headaches in the morning
They stop breathing for short periods
They wake from coughing, gasping, or snoring
Other
If your child has sleep apnea, what is done to deal with it?
Nothing, it is not severe
A breathing mask is worn
They are going to be treated surgically
Medication
They are woken up if it gets too extreme
Other
Have night terrors affected the energy of your child?
Yes
No
Is your child frightened of night terrors?
Yes, they have trouble getting to sleep
Yes, but they get to sleep just fine
Yes, they are afraid of embarrassing themselves during an episode
No, they don't remember them
No, they don't seem to bother them
Other
Have night terrors prevented your child from going on sleepovers?
Yes, they don't want to go on sleepovers
Yes, but only because you would allow them to go for their own sake.
No, they only have had night terrors at home
No, they go anyways
Other
Do other family members have a history of night terrors?
Other siblings
Mother
Father
Aunt or Uncle
Cousins
Grandparents
No, they are alone
Have you consulted a professional about their night terrors?
Doctor or Pediatrician
Dentist
Chiropractor
Hypnotist
Psychiatrist or Psycologist
School councilor
Other
Have you determined a cause of your child's night terrors?
Diet
Certain activity
Stress or anxiety
Mental health issue
Physical health issue
Trauma or emotional health issue
Allergies
Response to medication
Illness, such as a fever or flu
Other
Unknown or no apparent cause
Any other comments? Would you describe your child's episodes and how they are dealt with?
Any suggestions for modifying or improving this poll?
This poll was created on 2015-10-02 17:32:59 by Reitocs