What is sleepwalking in children?
Sleepwalking is when a child gets out of bed and walks around as if they’re awake, but they don’t respond normally to you or anything around them.
A sleepwalking child might:
- move about in their bed
- walk around the house
- do simple tasks like setting the table or getting dressed
- try to talk, but the conversation probably won’t make sense
- have their eyes open, with a glassy stare
- get upset and not want to be comforted
- let themselves out of the house and wander around outside.
Key facts about sleepwalking in children
Sleepwalking often happens in the first few hours of the night. This is when your child is in deep sleep. Your sleepwalking child isn’t dreaming.
When sleepwalking happens, your child’s body is awake, but their mind is asleep. This means they won’t remember the sleepwalking in the morning.
Sleepwalking might happen once or twice a month. Or it might happen as often as a couple of times a night. It can happen at the same time as sleeptalking and night terrors.
Sleepwalking is quite common. Around 7-15% of children sleepwalk. Children aged 4-12 years are more likely to sleepwalk. Sleepwalking is more common in children whose parents also sleepwalk or used to sleepwalk when they were children.
What causes sleepwalking in children?
Causes of sleepwalking include:
- lack of sleep
- fever or other illness
- medical conditions that cause poor sleep – for example, epilepsy or obstructive sleep apnoea
- stress or anxiety
- a full bladder or bowel.
Sleepwalking also runs in some families, and it’s usually related to age and development.
What to do when your child sleepwalks
Here’s what to do if you wake up and realise your child is sleepwalking:
- Try to stay calm even if your child looks frightened.
- Guide your child back to bed in a soothing way.
- Avoid waking your child. They might get upset or take a while to go back to sleep.
How to stop your child from sleepwalking
There’s no need to try to stop your child from sleepwalking. Most children grow out of sleepwalking when they reach puberty.
Tips for managing sleepwalking until your child grows out of it
- Make sure your child doesn’t sleep on a top bunk.
- Make the environment safe. Check that all doors and windows are securely locked. Remove tripping hazards from your child’s room, the hallway and any steps.
- Set up an alert to wake you when your child sleepwalks – for example, a bell on your child’s door, a baby monitor or a motion-activated light or buzzer.
- Check that your child is getting enough sleep. An earlier bedtime might reduce sleepwalking.
- Try to stick to a regular bedtime every day, especially on days when your child might get overtired – for example, days with special school events.
- If your child is going away overnight, let people know about the sleepwalking so they can keep your child safe.
Sleepwalking can be upsetting to watch, but try not to worry. Sleepwalking is part of the range of typical sleep behaviour in children. It isn’t a sign of an emotional or a psychological issue.
Does your child need to see a doctor about sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking usually doesn’t need medical treatment.
But if your child is sleepwalking at least once every night, it’s best to see your GP. Also see the GP if your child’s sleepwalking is affecting the night sleep of other family members or you’re worried your child might hurt themselves while sleepwalking. In these situations, your child might need professional treatment, which could include medicine or strategies to help your child.
If you’re worried that your child’s sleepwalking might be caused by an illness or a medical condition, talk with your GP or another health professional.