Night terrors vs nightmares: what's the difference

This guide is general information only and isn't a substitute for medical advice. If you're concerned about your child's health, or they're unwell, please see a doctor.

They sound similar and both happen at night, but night terrors and nightmares are quite different, and telling them apart changes what you should do. The short version: with a nightmare your child wakes up and wants you; with a night terror they're still asleep and comforting them may not work.

Night terrors are most common between about ages two and four, and can happen in children up to about age twelve, with most children outgrowing them by puberty. Nightmares, by contrast, are common at every age; Raising Children notes they are especially common around age ten. A child usually needs to be old enough for vivid dreams and a sense of fear before nightmares begin, and they can continue through the school years.

Nightmares

Nightmares are bad dreams. They tend to happen in the second half of the night, during lighter, dreaming sleep. Your child wakes up genuinely upset, but they're awake, they respond to you, and you can usually comfort them. They may remember the dream and still feel uneasy in the morning.

What helps: go to them, reassure calmly, and offer comfort. A predictable, calm bedtime and cutting scary content during the day reduce how often they happen.

Night terrors

Night terrors happen in the first few hours of the night, during very deep sleep. Your child may sit up, cry or scream, look panicked, and have a racing heart, fast breathing and sweating, but they are still asleep and won't respond to comforting. They typically settle within about 10 to 15 minutes, and your child won't remember it in the morning. Night terrors are less common than nightmares, affecting about 1 in 20 children.

What to do during a night terror

• Stay calm and don't try to wake your child, which can make it worse and last longer.
• Keep them safe: gently guide them if they move around, but otherwise let it pass.
• Wait quietly nearby until it settles, then let them return to sleep.

When to see a doctor

Both are usually a normal part of childhood and are grown out of with time. See your GP if terrors are very frequent, if they involve a lot of movement or possible harm, if your child seems distressed during the day, or if you're worried about disrupted breathing during sleep. Persistent nightmares linked to anxiety or a stressful event are also worth raising.

If an episode ever seems unusual, for example repetitive or unusual movements, or it begins in an older child, or you're simply not sure it is a night terror, mention it to your GP. That's a sensible check rather than a sign something is wrong.

For recurrent night terrors that strike at a predictable time, some families find that gently rousing the child briefly about half an hour before the usual episode can interrupt the pattern, though it's worth discussing with your GP first. For nightmares, the daytime often matters as much as the night: a calm, screen-light wind-down and a chance to talk through any worries before bed tend to reduce how often the bad dreams turn up.

Sources

• Raising Children Network, Night terrors
• Raising Children Network, Nightmares

Last updated: July 2026. Sources include Red Nose Australia and Raising Children Network where cited above. This guide is general information only. For individual concerns, see your GP or child health nurse.