Most night terrors last between thirty seconds and five minutes. Once the terror ends, the child soon goes back to sleep and will not remember the event the next morning. Some children seldom have attacks, others have them often. Night terrors are not thought to be indicators of emotional disturbance, but are probably related to a temporary delay in the maturation of the brain, and as the child shifts from one stage of sleep to another, there is some interference. Night terrors usually occur when a child is around eighteen months old, and are more common in boys than girls.
Night terrors run in families.
Stress and excessive fatigue are also thought to be factors. Children usually outgrow these attacks as they mature. During an attack the parents' main concern should be that the child not hurt herself. Stay in the room and intervene if you think she's in danger, but otherwise don't restrain her. A brief nap during the day can be helpful.