Nightmares and night terrors: the difference and what to do

A mother sitting on her child's bed at night, hugging her preschooler after a bad dream

Short answer: A nightmare is a bad dream your child wakes up from, usually later in the night; they come to you frightened, can be comforted and often remember it. A night terror happens in deep sleep early in the night: your child may scream, thrash about and have their eyes open, but they are not awake, don't recognise you and won't remember it. With a nightmare, comfort them. With a night terror, stay calm, keep them safe and don't try to wake them. Most children grow out of both.

Your child is sitting up in bed screaming. Their eyes are open, but they look straight through you and push you away when you try to comfort them. The next morning, they remember nothing. That wasn't a nightmare.

How to tell them apart

Nightmare

  • Usually happens later in the night.
  • Your child wakes up, feels frightened and looks for you.
  • They can be comforted, and may be able to tell you about it.
  • They often remember the dream the next day.
  • Common in children, and adults have them too.

Night terror

  • Usually happens in the early part of the night, during deep sleep — sometimes more than once.
  • Your child may scream, shout, thrash about or jump out of bed, with their eyes open, but they are asleep.
  • They may not recognise you, and may get more upset if you try to comfort them.
  • Episodes can last up to about 15 minutes.
  • Your child won't remember it in the morning.
  • Most common between the ages of about three and eight.
During a night terror, your child isn't experiencing the fear you see. You are. That's the biggest difference from a nightmare.

What can trigger them

The NHS lists common triggers for both: being very tired or unwell (including a high temperature), sudden noises or needing a wee in the night, and something frightening or stressful during the day, such as a scary film. Night terrors are also more common in children with a family member who has had night terrors or who sleepwalks.

What to do after a nightmare

  1. Go to your child, put on a dim light and stay with them.
  2. Reassure them simply: “You had a bad dream. It's over. I'm here.”
  3. Keep it short. A long conversation in the middle of the night wakes them up fully.
  4. During the day, you can talk about it if they want to. Some children like to draw the dream, or make up a different ending together.

What to do during a night terror

  • Stay calm and wait. It will pass.
  • Don't try to wake them — they may not recognise you and could become more upset.
  • Don't hold them or try to stop them moving, unless there's a risk they could hurt themselves. Move things out of the way instead.
  • Let them settle back to sleep. Most children simply lie down and sleep on afterwards.
  • Don't mention it the next morning unless your child brings it up. They won't remember, and the story may make them anxious about going to sleep.

Preventing night terrors

  • Tackle tiredness. An earlier bedtime and a regular, relaxing bedtime routine often help.
  • Keep a sleep diary for a couple of weeks: when your child went to sleep, when the episodes happened and what the day was like. It can show a pattern.
  • Try scheduled waking. If the night terrors happen at about the same time each night, the NHS suggests gently waking your child about 15 minutes before, every night for two weeks. This can break the pattern.
  • Reduce stress where you can, and avoid scary programmes or games before bed.

Sleepwalking: keeping your child safe

Sleepwalking is related to night terrors and usually happens in the first part of the night. If your child sleepwalks, gently guide them back to bed rather than waking them suddenly. Keep doors and windows closed, use stair gates, keep floors clear and don't let your child sleep on the top bunk.

Helping with fear of the dark

  • A calm, predictable bedtime routine, with no screens for 30 to 60 minutes before bed.
  • A dim night light or a landing light left on is fine.
  • Notice what your child sees and hears during the day; even a “mild” cartoon can stay with a young child.
  • Take the fear seriously without confirming it: “I can see you feel scared. You're safe, and I'm close by.”

When to see a GP

The NHS advises seeing a GP if:

  • your child still has nightmares after the age of six;
  • your child has frequent nightmares, or nightmares after an upsetting or frightening event;
  • your child still has night terrors after the age of 12, or starts having them after the age of five;
  • sleepwalking is putting your child at risk of injury;
  • your child snores loudly, has pauses in their breathing at night, or is very tired during the day.

Related reading

For the whole 0–4 sleep picture: The Big Book of Sleep (PDF, English) is a reference guide to children's sleep from birth to four, including night waking, fears and bedtime routines.

Sources

  1. NHS — Night terrors and nightmares.
  2. NHS — Sleepwalking.
  3. NHS — Sleep and young children.
  4. Sleep Foundation — Night terrors in children.

Written by the Bloom Guides editorial team. Last updated: 19 October 2026. General information only — not a substitute for advice from your health visitor or doctor.

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