For persistent night terrors, a physician may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication for a short period. Sleepwalking occurs when the brain has difficulty in making the transition from non-REM to REM sleep, the sleep stage in which dreaming occurs. Sleepwalking usually happens sometime during the first three hours of sleep. Some children get up and walk aimlessly around the house, for a few seconds to thirty minutes. The child's eyes are usually open she'll seem in a daze, and in the morning usually will not remember the incident.
Some children just sit up in bed and although they seem to be awake, they're actually asleep.
The problem usually surfaces during the preschool and elementary school years and is outgrown by adolescence. Children have been known to fall down stairs, bump into objects or even leave the house. Therefore it's important for parents of children who may sleepwalk to make sure the house is safe, such as locking doors, placing gates at stairs, etc. For some children, a brief late afternoon nap and reducing stress is helpful. In severe cases anti-anxiety medication may change the sleep pattern.