Night Terrors vs. Nightmares: What Is the Difference?

Look at timing, awareness, and memory

Nightmares and night terrors can both look frightening, but they happen during different stages of sleep. Nightmares are more common later in the night. A child wakes fully, recognizes a caregiver, accepts comfort, and may describe the dream.

Night terrors often occur during the first part of the night in deep sleep. A child may scream, cry, sweat, breathe rapidly, kick, thrash, or stare with open eyes. They may not recognize you, may resist comfort, and usually have little or no memory the next morning.

Respond to each one differently

After a nightmare, offer calm reassurance, remind your child that the dream was not real, and help them return to sleep when ready. Keep the room quiet and dim; a familiar comfort item or night-light may help.

During a night terror, focus on safety rather than waking the child. Stay nearby, speak softly, move hazards, and gently steer a wandering child away from danger. Shaking, shouting, or repeatedly trying to wake the child may increase agitation.

• Secure stairs, windows, and outside doors
• Avoid a top bunk if wandering occurs
• Note the time, length, movements, and recovery
• Tell other caregivers how to respond

Reduce triggers and know when to call

Not getting enough sleep is a common trigger for night terrors. Illness, fever, stress, schedule changes, an unfamiliar sleep setting, and some medicines may also contribute. A regular sleep schedule and calm bedtime routine may help.

Call the pediatrician about frequent, worsening, prolonged, or dangerous episodes; injury; drooling, repeated jerking or stiffening; loud snoring, gasping, or breathing pauses; or significant daytime sleepiness. Seek emergency help for trouble breathing, blue or gray color, serious injury, suspected seizure activity, or failure to return to the child’s usual breathing and responsiveness.