Sleepwalking in Children

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What is sleepwalking? " пїЅ Sleepwalking is a condition in which a person walks or talks while he or she is asleep. It happens more often in children than adults. пїЅ пїЅ

As a parent, it can be scary to see your child sleepwalk. But its important to know that sleepwalking does not mean that your child is sick or has a medical problem. пїЅ пїЅ

Most children outgrow their sleepwalking as they get older. пїЅ пїЅ

What are the symptoms of sleepwalking? " пїЅ Sleepwalking usually happens in the first part of the night. Sleepwalking children can crawl, walk, run, or talk while asleep. They might try to do something, like start to get dressed or walk out of the house. When children sleepwalk, they can have their eyes open and a blank look on their face. They will not respond to you when you talk to them. пїЅ пїЅ

An episode of sleepwalking can last a few seconds to minutes, but usually lasts 10 to 20 minutes. After the episode is over, the child will fall back asleep. This might be in his or her own bed or in another place in the house. пїЅ пїЅ

Will my child need tests? " пїЅ Probably not. The doctor or nurse should be able to tell if your child is sleepwalking by learning about your child's behavior and doing an exam. пїЅ пїЅ

Some children might need tests to make sure another condition isn't causing their night-time behavior. Doctors might order tests if children sleepwalk very often or have any of the following symptoms: пїЅ пїЅ

Loud snoring or gasping for breath during sleep
Wetting the bed (if the child used to stay dry at night)
Sleepwalking 2 or more times each night
Seizures, which are waves of abnormal activity in the brain that can make people pass out or move or behave strangely

How can I help my child when he or she sleepwalks? " пїЅ You can help your child by making sure he or she doesn't get hurt when sleepwalking. To help keep your child safe, you can: пїЅ пїЅ

Keep the windows and doors locked at night so your child can't get outside.
Make sure your child does not sleep in a top bunk bed (if he or she sleeps in a bunk bed).
Keep sharp, breakable, or dangerous items away from your child's bed or out of the bedroom.
Put a safety gate in the doorway of your child's bedroom or at the top of the stairs.
Keep the floor clear of clutter or other objects that could make your child trip and fall.

When your child sleepwalks, there are things you should and should not do. You should NOT try to hold your child down or wake him or her up. Instead, you should gently guide your child back to his or her bed. пїЅ пїЅ

Will my child need other treatment for sleepwalking? " пїЅ Probably not. If your child doesn't sleepwalk too often and it doesn't cause problems, your child will not need any other treatment. Most children outgrow their sleepwalking as they get older. пїЅ пїЅ

If the sleepwalking causes problems or your child doesn't outgrow it, talk with the doctor or nurse about treatment. Possible treatments can include: пїЅ пїЅ

Medicines
A behavior plan called "scheduled awakening " пїЅ " пїЅ This involves waking your child every night (for a few moments) at a certain time.

Can sleepwalking be prevented? " пїЅ Maybe. Children are more likely to sleepwalk in certain situations, such as when they do not get enough sleep or have a fever. пїЅ пїЅ

You might be able to prevent sleepwalking by making sure your child gets enough sleep. To do this, try to stick to a regular sleep schedule. Children younger than 6 years old should get 10 to 12 hours of sleep each night. Older children should get 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. пїЅ пїЅ

If your child has trouble falling asleep or getting a good night's sleep, here are some things you can try: пїЅ пїЅ

Have a set bedtime and bedtime routine for your child.
Keep your child's bedtime and wake-up time about the same every day (on school and non-school days).
Make the hour before bed a quiet time, and avoid high-energy activities.
Keep your child's room quiet and dark. If your child is scared of the dark, use a night light that is not too bright.
Don't have a TV in your child's bedroom.

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 86005 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.206 пїЅ пїЅ

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Sleepwalking in Children

The Basics

Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer

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