How Can I Protect My Sleepwalking Child?

A late night encounter with a glassy-eyed child who is sleepwalking can be an unnerving experience. Even more troubling for most parents is the possibility of injury to the sleepwalker. What should you do when your child sleepwalks? How can you protect him or her from getting hurt? Here are some actions you can take to care for your sleepwalking child.

Keep Your Sleepwalking Child Safe

Although sleepwalking is a common sleep disorder among children and isn't dangerous by itself, it is important for parents to implement some safety measures to protect a sleepwalking child from possibly falling, injuring himself or herself, or leaving the house.

1. Don't wake the sleepwalker. If you find your child sleepwalking, don't awaken him or her unless there is imminent danger. Although being suddenly aroused from sleep will not harm the walker, it may cause him or her to lash out in fear. According to the director of the Sleep Disorders Institute at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, Gary Zammit, Ph.D., "The best thing to do with a sleepwalker in your house is to gently guide him back to bed and encourage him to lie on his back."

2. Make sure all windows, staircases, and doors are secure. Sleepwalkers have been known to wander throughout the house and to sometimes venture outside. To prevent your sleepwalking child from leaving the house, lock all the windows and doors in your home. You may even consider adding deadbolts at the top of any doors leading outside. If your home has stairs, your sleepwalker should sleep downstairs, if possible, and have a safety gate installed to block the staircase.

3. Safety-proof the sleepwalking child's environment. To protect from a dangerous fall, a child with a history of sleepwalking should not be permitted to sleep in a bunk bed. Keep toys and other clutter out of the child's walkways. Be sure to store sharp or breakable objects out of reach. If your sleepwalking child is old enough to drive, it's also wise to put keys out of sight at night. Hang bells or some other sound device on the child's doorknob. When the door moves, the bells will ring and alert you that the sleepwalker is mobile.

Help Minimize Your Child's Sleepwalking Episodes

In addition to setting up precautionary measures to protect your sleepwalker, you can also help minimize the frequency of your child's sleepwalking episodes.

1. Limit fluid intake close to bedtime. A full bladder may contribute to sleepwalking episodes, so don't allow your child to drink caffeinated drinks or large quantities of other beverages close to bedtime. Also, make a last minute bathroom break a regular part of the bedtime ritual.

2. Establish and stand by a strict bedtime schedule. As with many other sleep disorders, sleepwalking episodes are often triggered by not getting enough sleep. Most children require 9-11 hours of sleep each night. If your child is not meeting that requirement, move up his or her bedtime. Try to keep your child's bedtime and wakeup times consistent. You can also help your child relax and sleep better by making sure the bedroom is quiet and regulated at a temperature conducive for sleeping.

3. Identify stressors and help your child deal with them. Sleepwalking is often triggered by stressors such as taking certain medications, being overtired, feeling sick, or being nervous or upset about something. Encouraging your child to keep a sleep journal may be helpful in recognizing those stressors and learning how to reduce the frequency of his or her sleepwalking episodes.

Most children gradually outgrow sleepwalking, usually by the time they are teenagers. If your child's sleepwalking episodes persist through adolescence or if your child is repeatedly engaging in perilous sleepwalking activities, please consult a physician.

Resource:

Hirshkowitz, Max, PhD, DABSM. Sleep Disorders for Dummies. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2004, p. 235, 295-296.