If your child is waking up screaming at night—hysterical, inconsolable, and not responding to you—you’re probably asking:
👉 Is this a nightmare?
👉 Is this normal?
👉 Why is my child waking up like this every night?
Take a deep breath.
You are not alone—and there is an explanation.
As a pediatric sleep consultant, I work with families every single week who are dealing with both night terrors and frequent night wakings.
And while they can look similar…
👉 They are not the same thing.
👉 And the solution depends on knowing the difference.
What Are Night Terrors in Children?
Night terrors are episodes that happen during deep sleep—usually within the first 1–3 hours after bedtime.
Your child may:
- Wake up screaming or crying intensely
- Sit up suddenly in bed
- Have eyes open but seem “not there”
- Push you away or resist comfort
- Be sweating, breathing fast, or panicked
Here’s the most important piece:
👉 Your child is not fully awake during a night terror.
They are essentially stuck between sleep cycles—and their brain hasn’t fully transitioned.
What Are Night Wakings?
Night wakings are completely different—and much more common.
These happen when your child:
- Wakes fully and cries for you
- Needs rocking, feeding, or your presence to go back to sleep
- Wakes multiple times throughout the night
- Struggles to fall asleep independently
👉 This is not a night terror.
👉 This is a sleep association issue.
And this is actually where most families are stuck.
Night Terrors vs Night Wakings (Quick Comparison)
| Night Terrors | Night Wakings |
|---|---|
| Occur early in the night | Happen all night long |
| Child is not fully awake | Child is fully awake |
| Inconsolable | Can be soothed |
| Doesn’t recognize you | Seeks you out |
| No memory in the morning | May remember |
Why Your Child Is Waking Up Screaming
Here’s what I see over and over again in my work:
👉 Overtiredness + poor sleep structure
When your child is overtired, their body releases cortisol (a stress hormone), which disrupts deep sleep and leads to:
- Night terrors
- Frequent night wakings
- Early morning wake-ups
- Short naps
Other contributing factors:
- Late bedtimes
- Inconsistent routines
- Skipped naps
- Feeding or rocking to sleep
- Big developmental changes
But the root issue?
👉 Sleep is out of rhythm.
Let’s Get Your Child Sleeping Through The Night
Just think, in as little as 1 to 3 days, you may ALL be sleeping better through the night!
What To Do During a Night Terror
I know your instinct is to fix it immediately—but here’s what actually works:
✔ Stay calm
✔ Keep the room dark and quiet
✔ Ensure your child is safe
✔ Use a gentle voice if needed
🚫 Do NOT:
- Turn on bright lights
- Shake or fully wake your child
- Try to “snap them out of it”
👉 Let the episode pass.
Most night terrors resolve within minutes.
How to Stop Night Terrors and Night Wakings
Here’s the truth most parents aren’t told:
👉 You don’t fix this at 2:00 AM.
👉 You fix this at bedtime.
Inside my work with families, we focus on:
1. Preventing Overtiredness
- Earlier, age-appropriate bedtimes
- Proper nap schedules
2. Creating A Consistent Sleep Routine
- Calm, predictable bedtime rhythm
- No stimulation before sleep
3. Teaching Independent Sleep Skills
- Laying your child down fully awake
- Removing sleep crutches like feeding or rocking
4. Regulating Sleep Cycles
- Helping your child connect sleep cycles without needing you
When these pieces are in place…
✨ Night wakings decrease
✨ Night terrors often disappear
✨ Your child sleeps peacefully—and so do you
A Gentle Truth Every Parent Needs to Hear
💜 Your child crying does not mean you are harming them.
Crying is communication.
And when you lovingly guide your child toward healthy sleep, you are:
- Supporting their brain development
- Improving their mood and behavior
- Strengthening your family dynamic
You are not abandoning them.
👉 You are leading them.
When to Get Help
If your child is:
- Waking up screaming every night
- Experiencing frequent night terrors
- Waking multiple times overnight
- Taking short naps or fighting sleep
It’s time to stop guessing.
Prayer for Peaceful Sleep
Work With a Sleep Consultant You Can Trust
At Fabulous Sleep Solutions, I help exhausted families:
😴 Go from broken sleep
➡️ To sleeping through the night in as little as 1–3 days
With a gentle, structured, and supportive approach.
Author Christina Fabritiis is a pediatric sleep consultant and founder of Fabulous Sleep Solutions, based in the San Tan Valley and Queen Creek area of Arizona. She works with families locally and nationally to help babies, children, teens, and adults get the sleep they need. Learn more about sleep training at: fabuloussleepsolutions.com