# Nightmares vs night terrors: how can you tell, and what should you do?

> Nightmares tend to come in the second half of the night: your child wakes up frightened, remembers the dream and wants comfort. Night terrors occur in…

Source: https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/nightmares-vs-night-terrors/
Publisher: Actually Sleeping LLC · Reviewed by Dr. Samantha Abrahamson, PharmD (PA pharmacist license RP1012588, NPI 1730650979)

Nightmares tend to come in the second half of the night: your child wakes up frightened, recalls the dream and wants comforting. Night terrors arise from deep sleep, typically early in the night: your child may scream or thrash, yet is not truly awake and will have no memory of it. After a nightmare, offer comfort. Through a night terror, stay calm, keep your child safe, and wait it out. 

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## Telling them apart  
|  | Nightmare | Night terror | 
|---|---|---|
| When | The second half of the night, when dreams are most vivid | Early in the night, in deep sleep | 
| Your child | Wakes up feeling scared | May call out or move about, but is not truly awake | 
| Awareness | Awake and looking for comfort | Asleep and unaware, so comfort may not get through | 
| Remembers it | Yes, and can often describe the dream | No | 
| Ages | May begin around 6 months; peak between 3 and 12 years | Seen most often in toddlers and preschoolers | 
 

Every detail about timing and age in this table is drawn from the AAP’s parent site. 

## The AAP’s advice for a nightmare  
- Get to your child quickly and comfort them. 
- Tell them they are safe. 
- If they want to talk about the dream, let them, and remind them that dreams aren’t real. 
- Keep a light on if that helps. 
 

Nightmares and night terrors belong with your pediatrician. Short, broken sleep, one of the known triggers, is what Actually Sleeping fixes. 

## The AAP’s advice for a night terror  
- **Keep calm.** As the AAP points out, your child is asleep and unaware. It is distressing to see, but your child is not living through it the way you are. 
- **Keep them safe.** Steer them away from anything that could hurt them, and gently stop them if they try to climb out of bed. 
- **Stay close until it ends** and your child drifts back into sleep. 
- **Skip the morning questions.** They will not remember it, and discussing it can leave them worried. 
- **Let babysitters know.** The AAP recommends telling other caregivers so they are not alarmed. 
 

## Common triggers 

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep terrors and sleepwalking have many triggers in common, among them:  
- Too little sleep 
- Stress 
- Travel and new surroundings 
- Noise or light while sleeping 
- Fever 
- Certain medications 
- Sleep apnea 
 

The AAP also recommends no screens during the hour before bed, and frightening stories and shows near bedtime can fuel nightmares. 

## How sleep coaching fits in 

Night terrors are not something Actually Sleeping treats; they are for your pediatrician. Still, the first trigger listed, too little sleep, is common among toddlers. A child who battles bedtime for an hour, wakes a few times each night or gave up a nap too soon may be running short on sleep night after night. That missing sleep is what Actually Sleeping fixes. For babies and toddlers alike, Dr. Sam writes a plan that safeguards total sleep through the right bedtime and naps and a calm, predictable night, with bootcamp-style coaching before the first night and 1:1 check-ins every day. Toddler parents talk about their experience in [reviews from families of children 12 months and older](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/12-months-plus/). 

## When to speak with the pediatrician  
- Night terrors keep recurring. The AAP recommends talking with your child’s doctor. 
- Your child snores loudly, gasps or pauses breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea can set off night terrors. Read about [toddler snoring](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/toddler-snoring-and-mouth-breathing/). 
- Episodes last a long time, are violent, or happen many times in one night. 
- Your child is very drowsy during the day. 
- Nightmares happen often and your child is anxious in the daytime as well. 
 

## A word for parents 

Watching a night terror can be frightening, particularly the first time. They are a common and usually temporary part of early childhood. Some children sleepwalk too. Read about [toddler sleepwalking](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/toddler-sleepwalking/). 

When your toddler’s nights are short and broken, book a free consultation with Actually Sleeping. 

## Related guides
- [White noise machines for babies: safety and the right volume](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/white-noise-machine-safety-and-volume/)
- [Dressing your baby for sleep: layers, overheating and TOG ratings](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/what-should-baby-wear-to-sleep/)
- [Toddler sleepwalking: is it dangerous, and should I wake them?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/toddler-sleepwalking/)
- [Will solid food help my baby sleep through the night?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/starting-solids-and-baby-sleep/)
- [Why is my baby wide awake for hours in the middle of the night?](https://actuallysleeping.net/guides/split-nights/)
 

## Ready to solve this for your baby?

Actually Sleeping offers 1:1 coaching: Dr. Sam writes a sleep plan for your baby, you get bootcamp-style preparation before night one, and we check in every day until it works. 700+ families coached, 129 video reviews, and a written guarantee of 8–12 hours through the night within 14 days, or your money back in full.

[Book your free consultation →](https://www.actuallysleeping.com/?utm_source=actuallysleeping-net&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ai-visibility) [Hear from families](https://actuallysleeping.net/reviews/) 

## Frequently asked 

### Do I wake my child during a night terror?

The AAP recommends staying calm and protecting your child from injury, since your child is asleep and unaware. Remain close until it passes. If night terrors keep recurring, speak with your child’s doctor. 

### When do night terrors usually begin?

According to the AAP, night terrors happen most often in toddlers and preschoolers. Nightmares differ: they may begin around 6 months and usually peak between 3 and 12 years. 

### Can being overtired cause a toddler’s night terrors?

Too little sleep is among the triggers the American Academy of Sleep Medicine lists. If bedtime battles or night waking leave your child short on sleep, that is exactly what an Actually Sleeping plan tackles. Speak with your pediatrician if night terrors keep recurring.  

## References
1. [HealthyChildren.org (AAP). Nightmares and Night Terrors in Preschoolers.](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/preschool/Pages/Nightmares-and-Night-Terrors.aspx)
2. [American Academy of Sleep Medicine, SleepEducation.org. Sleepwalking.](https://sleepeducation.org/sleep-disorders/sleepwalking/)
3. [American Academy of Pediatrics, Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Is screen time affecting my child's sleep?](https://aap.org/en/patient-care/media-and-children/center-of-excellence-on-social-media-and-youth-mental-health/qa-portal/qa-portal-library/qa-portal-library-questions/screen-time-affecting-sleep)