If you’re trying to figure out the difference between sleepwalking and night terrors, you’re not alone. Many parents see confusing nighttime episodes and wonder whether their child is sleepwalking, having night terrors, or showing signs of both. Get clear, practical guidance based on what you’re seeing at home.
Start with the description that best matches your child’s usual nighttime behavior, and we’ll help you sort through the most likely explanation and next steps to consider.
Sleepwalking and night terrors can both happen during deep sleep, which is why they are often confused. A child who is sleepwalking may sit up, get out of bed, walk around, or do simple actions while seeming asleep and difficult to fully wake. A child having a night terror may suddenly scream, look frightened, sweat, thrash, or seem panicked, yet still not be fully awake or aware. In many families, the hardest part is that the child often remembers little or nothing the next morning. Looking closely at what happens during the episode, how your child appears, and what the pattern looks like over time can help clarify the difference between sleepwalking and night terrors.
Your child may get up, wander, stare blankly, move objects, or try routine actions while seeming asleep. They may be hard to wake and confused if interrupted.
Your child may suddenly scream, cry, sit bolt upright, look terrified, breathe fast, or resist comfort. Even though they seem awake, they often are not fully conscious.
Some children show a mixed pattern, such as walking on some nights and having panicked episodes on others. That can make it harder to tell whether it is sleepwalking or night terrors without looking at the full picture.
Sleepwalking usually involves movement with little emotional expression. Night terrors usually involve intense fear, screaming, or agitation.
In both cases, children are often hard to wake. With sleepwalking, they may seem quiet and automatic. With night terrors, they may seem distressed and push away comfort.
Children often have little or no memory of either event, which is one reason parents rely on what they observe rather than what the child reports the next day.
If your child may be sleepwalking, secure stairs, doors, and windows, and remove hazards near the bed and walking path.
During either type of episode, forcing your child awake can increase confusion. Gentle guidance back to bed is often more helpful than repeated attempts to wake them.
Notice timing, behaviors, stress, sleep loss, illness, and how often episodes happen. These details can make it easier to understand whether your child’s episodes fit sleepwalking, night terrors, or another sleep issue.
Sleepwalking usually looks like a child moving around while still asleep, often quietly and without clear fear. Night terrors usually look more dramatic, with screaming, panic, or a terrified expression, even though the child is not fully awake.
Some children show overlapping behaviors, so the answer is not always obvious from one sign alone. The sequence of events, how distressed your child seems, and whether walking or fear is the main feature can help sort out whether it looks more like sleepwalking, night terrors, or a mixed pattern.
Yes. Night terrors and sleepwalking can both happen in childhood, including in toddlers and school-age kids. They are often linked to deep sleep and may be more likely when a child is overtired, stressed, or sick.
Watch for whether your child mainly walks or performs simple actions while seeming asleep, or whether they mainly scream, look terrified, and seem panicked. Timing, body language, and how the episode ends can all offer useful clues.
Many episodes are not dangerous by themselves, but safety matters, especially if your child leaves the bed or room. If episodes are frequent, intense, causing injury risk, or leaving you unsure what you are seeing, getting personalized guidance can help you decide what to do next.
If you’re still unsure whether you’re seeing sleepwalking, night terrors, or both, answer a few questions for a clearer assessment tailored to your child’s symptoms and sleep pattern.
Answer a Few QuestionsExplore more assessments in this topic group.
See related assessments across this category.
Find more parenting assessments by category and topic.
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking