HomeClassicCuriosityParents
Back to Parent Guide
Preschool/School age\u202224–120 months

Night terrors

Night terrors is common for kids 2 years to 10 years, especially during changes or when they’re learning to settle. What helps tonight: keep the routine short, speak calmly, and repeat one simple plan. Try connection first, one tiny boundary you can keep, and the same ending phrase each night. If it’s frequent, intense, or you’re worried, talk with your pediatrician.

Parents asking about night terrors for kids 2 years to 10 years usually need two things: normalization and a simple plan for tonight. Keep bedtime calm and predictable: connection first, one small boundary, then a repeatable closing cue. Lower stimulation (dim light, few words), offer two calm choices, and avoid long negotiations. If episodes are frequent for weeks, involve safety risks, or you suspect pain or breathing issues, seek professional guidance.

Want a story for tonight?

Use this topic as the theme.

What's Normal

  • •Night terrors can look scary, but the child is often not fully awake.
  • •They usually happen in the first part of the night and the child may not remember.
  • •Trying to wake a child during a night terror often makes it longer.
  • •They can increase with overtiredness, stress, fever, or irregular schedules.

Routine Steps

  1. 1
    Connect

    Get close, breathe, and say one calm sentence that names bedtime.

  2. 2
    Set the plan

    Give one simple boundary and one choice you can repeat.

  3. 3
    Close the loop

    Use a calming cue and the same ending phrase each night.

What To Avoid

  • •Trying to wake them fully or asking lots of questions mid‑episode.
  • •Bright lights and loud stimulation.
  • •Punishment or shame—this is not intentional behavior.

What Helps Tonight

  • •Keep your child safe: gently block walking or bumping hazards.
  • •Speak softly and keep lights low; don’t try to reason.
  • •Wait it out—most pass within minutes.
  • •The next day, don’t make a big deal; keep bedtime calm.
  • •Prioritize regular sleep and earlier bedtimes if overtired.
  • •If frequent, discuss with your pediatrician for reassurance and guidance.

When To Get Help

  • •If sleep issues happen most nights for weeks and your family is exhausted.
  • •If there are safety concerns (leaving the house, dangerous climbing, choking risks).
  • •If you suspect pain, breathing problems, or you’re worried about health—check with a pediatrician.

Frequently Asked Questions

What you’re seeing can be normal for Night terrors, especially during changes, busy days, or when kids are learning new sleep skills. Look for patterns across a week, not one night, and remember: consistency matters more than perfection.

Tonight, keep it simple: use a calm voice, one repeatable phrase, and one tiny boundary you can keep. Try: connect briefly, name the plan, and use the same ending phrase. Pick 1–2 helpers: keep your child safe: gently block walking or bumping hazards. and the next day, don’t make a big deal; keep bedtime calm.

Some families see improvement in a few nights; others need 1–3 weeks of consistent practice. If you change the plan every night, it takes longer. Give one approach a full week before adjusting.

Avoid long negotiations, big reactions, and adding new rewards after lights-out. The goal is a boring, predictable response that doesn’t add energy to bedtime.

Reach out for extra support if this is happening most nights for weeks, your child seems very distressed, there are safety concerns, or you suspect pain or health issues. Your pediatrician can help you rule out medical factors and choose a safe plan.

Create a bedtime story about this topic

Personalized with tonight's mood and this guide's notes.

One free story—no account needed.