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Sleep Walking

What is sleep walking?

Sleep walking happens in healthy children and is not usually related to significant emotional or psychological problems.  Nearly one child in three will at some stage wake from their sleep during the night and walk around the house while still being asleep.   Sleep walking commonly occurs between the ages of 4-8 years - children usually outgrow it.   Make sure that your home is safe and secure and that your child has a regular sleep routine.

Signs and symptoms

A young child may wander around the cot.  An older child will get up out of bed and walk around their room or the house.  Younger children tend to walk towards a parent or light source.  Even though your child is asleep they can carry out simple tasks such as setting tables, rearranging furniture or changing clothes.  Some children may urinate (pee) in strange places such as cupboards or on the floor.  They may have a conversation although it usually makes little sense. 

Occasionally children can let themselves out of the house and can wander around outside.  The child doesn't recognize anyone and although their eyes are open they often have a glazed appearance.  Occasionally a child can become quite agitated and upset during an episode. 

Causes

Children who sleep walk are basically stuck halfway between being asleep and awake.  A few hours after falling asleep when the child is moving from a deep sleep to light sleep they get stuck.  They are awake enough to get out of bed, talk and have their eyes open, but they are asleep in that they do not respond to a parent trying to interact with them and have no memory of the episode in the morning.  Often there is a family history of night terrors or sleep walking.

Episodes may become worse with illness and fevers, or if your child becomes very worried about something.

Sleep walking happens in healthy children and usually does not indicate significant emotional or psychological problems.  

Treatment

  • Keep the house safe - lock windows and doors, and clear the bedroom of objects they can step on or trip over.
  • Maintain a regular sleep schedule with a good bedtime routine.   Children can sleepwalk more if they are too tired. 
  • Stay calm and gently redirect your child back to bed when they have finished what they are doing.
  • Dont make a big fuss about sleep walking the next day unless your child asks.   Children and siblings often become upset by your reaction and may become anxious about going to bed.
  • Sleep walking does not have any long-term effects.   Most children grow out of sleep-walking as their sleep patterns mature.

Prevention

If your child is to go away overnight on camp or at a friends place, tell the caregivers that your child might sleepwalk so they can be prepared.  Give them a copy of this brochure.  Make sure that you child has a good sleep routine prior to going away.  For example make sure your child is not tired beforehand and goes to bed at a regular time.

Follow up

You may need to see your doctor for further treatment if:

  • If the sleepwalking is disturbing the family's night-time sleep.
  • Your child is very sleepy during the day. 

Key points to remember

  • Make sure that your home is safe and secure.
  • Your child is asleep and does not remember what happened the next morning.
  • Make sure that your child has a good sleep routine and has enough sleep.

For more information

Produced in consultation with the Melbourne Children's Sleep Unit, Royal Children's Hospital (RCH). Many thanks to the parents who helped with this factsheet. First published  2005.  Updated June 2007

Sleep Unit RCH

 

 

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