6yr old's dilated pupils

[PumpkinsGalore]

Hi I have a 6yr old DD who never ever wakes up in the night (this is once I've finally got her to sleep!).

Tonight she's in my bed and a few mins ago she briefly woke up - to my shock - and had the biggest, most dilated pupils I've ever seen probably on anybody, not just her, and was glaring at me with a very creepy slight-smirk for about 30 seconds then went back to sleep. She was like 😳.
She's also red hot & extremely sweaty. The latter I wouldn't be particularly concerned about as she's prone to sweatiness and it's very humid tonight. She's also used to having a fan on whilst she sleeps and didn't have it tonight.
However the two issues combined, is freaking me out a bit. Particularly as her teacher had told me how she suddenly turned white as a sheet at school today. They hadn't called me as she'd felt fine again and regained colour after just a few minutes.

Honestly, I am far from a paranoid parent who worries about every little thing. I genuinely don't. This though, is giving me a worrying feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Any thoughts? Do kids' pupils go gigantic when they sleep walk? I've never witnessed any sleepwalking that I know of. Don't want to either, I'd be terrified! 😂🧖🏼‍♀️

Obviously if she's not 100% her normal self in the morning, I will call the GP. I'm just looking for tales of kids who regularly have this or to be told I'm being ridiculous, so I can sleep!! 😆

Thanks

Pupils dilate in the dark don't they?

The lamp was on as I was taking my medication. It may have been that which woke her (though it never has before) so it wasn't dark. Perhaps I'm using the wrong term by 'dilated' but they were gigantic

Can you take her temperature now? I would be concerned if she's red hot. Call 111?

@AlwaysLatte

Can you take her temperature now? I would be concerned if she's red hot. Call 111?

Just felt her forehead with the intention of taking her temperature but she's nice & cool now, thank goodness!

The eye thing was the stuff of nightmares though, honestly. "Go back to sleep darling, I'll put the fan on 😬😬😬😬😩"

🏃🏼‍♀️💨

I think that when your eyes are closed and you are relaxed in sleep, your pupils relax too and may dilate fully. But you never see it because you tense them up again ready to focus as you become conscious before opening your eyelids. Sounds like there may have been a delay there?

@BestZebbie

I think that when your eyes are closed and you are relaxed in sleep, your pupils relax too and may dilate fully. But you never see it because you tense them up again ready to focus as you become conscious before opening your eyelids. Sounds like there may have been a delay there?

Thank you, that's reassuring. She did wake up suddenly. Full of beans this morning!

Kids do creepy things in the night sometimes. I co-sleep with DD and she's generally a quiet sleeper but occasionally she will just start laughing in the middle of the night. It's very odd and I crapped myself the first time it happened!

Yours sounds like a scene from a horror film!

A trip to the opticians could be a good idea. The eye tests in school are minimal and you need to arrange your own.

White as a sheet and staring at night are some unusual behaviours though. Keep an eye on any "absenses" eg when she doesnt respond to her name being called or stares off as if in a daze.