Nightmares occur quite commonly in young children. Typically, a child with a nightmare wakes up completely, is very anxious, and usually remembers the content of the dream vividly. Childhood nightmares require no specific treatment, except for reassuring the frightened child. Occasionally, when nightmares become more frequent or occur on a regular basis, it may be a sign of stress in the child's life or environment. Also, the content of the bad dream or nightmare may be a clue to what is stressing the child.
Night terrors occur less commonly and are different from nightmares.
Typically, children with terrors are out of control, but still awake. They may be sitting up in bed, appear frightened, staring with eyes wide open. They may also be sweating, breathing heavily and complaining of seeing peculiar things or objects that are not really there. Although the exact cause of night terrors, nightmares and other sleep disturbances, is not understood, they are thought to be a result of waking up during a certain stage of the normal sleep cycle. Night terrors occur during the Stage 4 or non-REM sleep period.