Sleepwalking happens when a person exhibits motor activity during the early stages of slow-wave sleep, usually one to three hours after falling asleep.
The sleepwalker may simply sit up in bed, or get up and walk around. They can do simple things like opening a door, descending stairs or performing everyday tasks. This condition is benign, but it can put the person at risk of injury.
These occasional behaviours rarely last more than about 10 minutes. The person may then wake up on their own or return to bed. They will have no memory of what happened. Since it may be difficult (but not dangerous) to wake them up, it is best to gently guide them back to bed.
A number of causes can lead to sleepwalking, such as stress, puberty, fever or a lack of sleep. It may also be due to a hereditary factor.
Sleepwalking is more common in young children than in adults and tends to disappear with time. About 15% of children between the ages of 5 and 12 will experience at least one episode of sleepwalking.