Don't hug or shake your child. Waking the child will only frighten him or her more.
Stay close to your child until he or she falls into a normal sleep again.
Turn on the lights and talk softly to soothe and assure the child that he or she is safe.
Watch to make sure your child doesn't do anything to harm him or herself, like falling out of bed.
Night terrors sometimes lead to sleep walking. If this occurs, guide your child
gently back to bed without waking him or her.
Keep the room safe in case of sleepwalking. Keep the floor free of dangerous obstructions.
Keep your child on a regular schedule of meal times, bed times and rising times.
Make sure the child goes to the bathroom before going to bed. Night terrors can sometimes cause bedwetting.
Night terrors often occur about the same time every night. Set the alarm and wake your child before the terror begins.
If the night terrors happen often or are particularly disturbing to you or your child, discuss the problem with your doctor.
Ask your doctor if he can prescribe any medication that might help.
If you believe the episodes may be caused by emotional problems or post-traumatic stress, talk it over with a psychiatrist or counsellor.