Confusional Sleep Arousals In Kids

Confusional arousal is a type of sleep disturbance very similar to a night terror. In fact, the only real difference between the two is that your child may seem awake during a confusional arousal while they usually appear to still be sleeping during a night terror or sleep walking episode. So what is a confusional arousal and what can you do about it?

Night Terrors and Confusional Arousal

A confusional arousal can leave you feeling confused and scared for your child. They will suddenly wake up from sleep and appear agitated and upset. They may kick, scream, thrash around in their bed as if they are in pain or angry at something. Your initial reaction is to probably wake them up and comfort them but this is actually not the right thing to do. Your child is not completely awake, even if their eyes are open. During a confusional arousal part of the brain is still asleep while another part of the brain wakes up. You can imagine how this can be confusing for a child. The good news, however, is that they will not have any recollection of the events the next day.

During confusional arousal your child may

• Appear to be awake but will not respond normally to you
• Tantrum in their bed
• Fight you if you try to cuddle them
• Appear confused and disorientated

Confusional arousals normally occur in children around the age of 18 months to five years of age. They usually occur at the beginning of the night (within the first three hours) and during the deepest sleep. The episode can go on for as long as 45 minutes but generally last between 5 and 15 minutes.

Why is This Happening?

There are a number of different things that can trigger confusional arousal in a child. They can be a normal part of the maturity process and can often be a reaction to the surroundings. You may notice that your child has an episode if they are overtired, overstimulated or emotionally stressed. Some medicines can also cause confusional arousal including sedatives and antihistamines. Even minor disturbances in naptime and daily routine can create a higher risk of an episode.

It can be hard as parents to sit back and do nothing when your child is screaming the house down. But this is exactly what you should do. Let your child have their sleeping tantrum and just be there. Don’t offer comfort or try to wake them up as this can make things worse. Just make sure they are safe and that you are there when they need you.

You can try to prevent these night terrors from happening by sticking to a routine, ensuring your child is getting enough sleep and trying to eliminate any stressful or overstimulating activities.  If your child is having these episodes regularly, or if they are over the age of 6, then a trip to the doctor may help you get a better grasp on what is causing them and how you can help.