Patient's question:
I often wake up crying for no reason, and even when changing diapers, the baby won't eat. It seems fine when lying on their stomach, but if they roll over, they wake up again. They sleep restlessly, jolting awake every moment. What kind of assistance should I provide: The baby keeps crying when trying to take a nap...Doctor's answer:
Sleepwalking (night terrors) refers to a condition where children cannot maintain continuous deep sleep throughout the night, often waking up crying at night, or even playing intermittently. When a child experiences night terrors, it is important to rule out other diseases that may cause sleep disturbances, nighttime crying, or difficulty falling asleep, such as abdominal pain or upper respiratory infections.Recommendations:
Sleep disorders caused by these conditions usually last only a few days and rarely persist for multiple days, accompanied by obvious physical discomfort. The main comprehensive prevention and treatment measures for children's night terrors are as follows:
(1) Supportive psychological therapy
- Based on a thorough understanding of the medical history and a careful physical examination, identify potential causes and rule out other diseases.
- Parents should use methods such as reassurance, responding, and guidance to completely alleviate the child's anxiety and depressive mood.
- Properly resolve family conflicts and life stressors, avoiding the spread of family tensions to the child.
(2) Stable parenting style
- Develop good deep sleep habits by establishing a regular sleep routine and creating a conducive sleep environment for the child.
- Avoid coaxing, holding, or immediately responding to the child's crying by picking them up, patting, or changing their diaper.
(3) Behavioral therapy
① Parents should actively consult with a psychologist for understanding and guidance.
② The fading method is often effective: when the child cries at night, avoid immediate intervention; consciously ignore them to teach them to fall asleep independently.
③ Accurately record the treatment process and outcomes.
④ Periodically review and adjust the treatment plan until satisfactory results are achieved.
(4) Medication treatment
- Night terrors are not a true form of "insomnia," and medication is generally unnecessary.
- For severe cases, short-term medication treatment may be prescribed under the guidance of a doctor.