Does your little one sleepwalk at night? (Sleepwalking) – Shall we talk about this?

Have you ever noticed your child sometimes getting out of bed at night and walking around the house? Or have you ever heard of such a thing? This is what we call sleepwalking , or in medical terms, 'somnambulism'. Many parents get a little scared and worried about this. But it's actually more common among young children than you might think. So let's talk about this in a clear way today, shall we?

What is sleepwalking?

Simply put, sleepwalking is the act of waking up from a deep sleep and moving around without realizing it. It is most common in young children . It usually happens within an hour or two of falling asleep. Some children walk for only a few seconds, while others can walk for up to 30 minutes.

The most important thing is that it is not a good idea to try to wake a sleepwalking child suddenly. Doing so can make them scared and upset. Even after waking up, they may feel groggy and disoriented for a few minutes, unable to remember where they are or what happened.

For most children, this condition goes away on its own by the time they reach their teenage years, so it's nothing to be too concerned about.

What happens when you sleepwalk?

Sleepwalking doesn't just mean walking. It can also mean a number of other things. Let's see.

• Just sitting in bed: Some children may not get out of bed, but instead sit on the bed and do things like pacing, rubbing their eyes, or pulling on their pajamas. These are not very harmful.
• Leaving the house: This can be a bit dangerous . Some children may even open the door and leave the house.
• Doing inappropriate things: For example, opening a cupboard and urinating inside it.

So, getting out of bed and walking is the main symptom. However, a toddler who is sleepwalking may also do things like:

• Talking in my sleep.
• Even if you try to wake him up, he won't wake up easily.
• The face is a little blurry, and he looks unconscious.
• A bit careless when walking, which means clumsy, and can bump into things.
• They don't answer when you call them.
• Sitting in bed and doing the same thing over and over again (e.g., wiping eyes ).

Another thing is, even if the child's eyes are open when they sleepwalk,, they don't see things the way we do when we're awake. They often imagine they're in another room at home, or somewhere else entirely. Also, they don't remember anything after these events. If you ask them, "Did I walk at night?" they'll say, "No."

Why do you sleepwalk like this? What are the reasons?

Sleepwalking is more common in young children than in adults. There are several reasons for this:

• Family history : If you or your partner have had sleepwalking as a child, your child is more likely to have it too. This means it may be hereditary .
• Lack of sleep or excessive fatigue: If a child does not sleep well or is overly tired during the day, they may sleepwalk at night.
• Irregular sleep patterns: This condition can also occur in children who do not go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Illness or fever: A child is more likely to sleepwalk when they are sick, especially when they have a fever.
• Certain medications: Sleepwalking can also be a side effect of some medications.
• Stress : Even young children can experience stress, or what we call 'stress', for a variety of reasons. Things like schoolwork and problems with friends can affect this.

Sometimes, sleepwalking can be accompanied by other conditions such as:

• Sleep apnea: A condition in which breathing stops for a short time during sleep.
• Enuresis: Wetting the bed at night.
• Night terrors : A condition in which you suddenly wake up from sleep screaming and feeling scared.

Is sleepwalking harmful?

Sleepwalking is not really harmful . That is, it does not harm the child's brain or body. However, when they sleepwalk, the child is not conscious. So they do not understand what they are doing. This is where it can be a little dangerous.

Imagine a child falling down a flight of stairs, opening a window, or bumping into something sharp in their sleep. These things can cause accidents. That's why we say that even though sleepwalking is not dangerous, we should be careful about the child's safety at that time.

Another thing is, sleepwalking does not mean that the child has a mental or behavioral problem. Also, it does not cause any emotional harm to the child. They will not remember the night walk anyway.

How to protect a sleepwalking child?

As we've said before, while sleepwalking isn't dangerous, we should take steps to reduce the chances of your child falling, bumping into something, or leaving the house (or even driving a car if your child is young). Here are some things you can do:

• Don't try to wake a sleepwalking child suddenly. Doing so may frighten the child. Instead, gently, lovingly, and gently put the child back to bed.
• Keep windows and doors in your child's room and other areas of the house tightly closed and locked. If you have small children, you can also install additional locks (child safety locks) on the doors. If your child is old enough to drive, do not let them get their hands on the keys.
• To prevent falls, do not let your child sleep on the top floor of a bunk bed.
• Remove sharp, breakable objects from around the child's bed.
• Keep potentially dangerous items out of the reach of children.
• Remove obstacles that could trip you over in your child's room and other areas of the house. Keep things like toys and books organized.
• Install safety gates at the door of your child's room and at the top of the stairs.

It is very important to follow these safety measures because we want our child to be safe even if they sleepwalk.

When should I see a doctor?

Most of the time, sleepwalking does not require any special treatment. However, it is a good idea to seek medical advice in the following cases:

• If you sleepwalk frequently: If this happens frequently, like several times a week.
• If your child is feeling sleepy during the day because of this: If they are tired and sleepy during the day because they are not getting enough sleep at night.
• If there are dangerous behaviors: things like leaving the house, trying to jump from a high place.
• This condition has not gone away even after the child reaches their early teen years.

When you see a doctor, they will examine your child. For children who sleepwalk frequently, doctors may sometimes recommend a treatment called Scheduled Awakening . This involves waking your child up 15 to 30 minutes before the time they would normally sleepwalk. This has been found to help stop sleepwalking. Doctors rarely prescribe medications to help with sleep.

What else do I need to know?

There are a few other things you can do to prevent or reduce sleepwalking:

• Relax your child before putting him to sleep. Let him listen to soft music or relaxation tapes.
• Create a consistent sleep schedule. Put your baby to bed at the same time every day and wake him up at the same time. If you take a nap during the day, keep a consistent time for that too.
• Put your child to bed a little earlier. This can reduce excessive sleepiness.
• Don't give your child too many liquids in the evening. Also, make sure to take your child to the toilet before bed. (A full bladder can also affect sleepwalking).
• Avoid giving caffeine-containing foods (coffee, tea, chocolate, some soft drinks) close to bedtime.
• Make your child's bedroom a quiet, comfortable, and restful place to sleep.
• Keep the noise level low (at night and during the day) when children are trying to sleep.

Take-Home Message

Okay, so we've talked a lot about sleepwalking today, haven't we? Here are some of the most important things to remember:

• Sleepwalking is common among young children . It often goes away on its own by adolescence.
• This is not a serious condition to be afraid of . However, it is very important to take care of your child's safety when he sleepwalks.
• Don't try to wake the child up suddenly. Take him back to bed slowly.
• Create a safe environment at home. Close doors and windows, and remove obstacles.
• If sleepwalking is frequent, if it is affecting your child's daily activities, or if they are behaving in a dangerous manner , seek medical advice .
• Creating an environment conducive to restful sleep and maintaining a consistent sleep pattern can help reduce this condition.

So, the next time you see your little one sleepwalking at night, don't panic. Now you know what to do. Gently, gently put him back in his crib and make sure he's safe. If you have any more questions, you can talk to your family doctor or a pediatrician.

Sleepwalking, Children's Sleep, Somnambulism, Sleep Problems, Child Safety, Medical Advice, Causes of Sleepwalking