Quick answer: if your child sleepwalks, stay calm, make sure they are safe and gently guide them back to bed. KidsHealth advises against trying to wake them, because it may frighten them, and the American Academy of Pediatrics advises gently leading them back to bed. Most of the work is in making the home safe, and sleepwalking is common in children and tends to fade by the teens.
Quick Fix / Summary
- Gently lead your child back to bed rather than waking them
- Lock outside doors and windows and block stairways
- Clear toys and clutter from the bedroom floor and hallway
- Avoid top bunks for a child who sleepwalks
- Keep a regular bedtime so your child is not short on sleep
- Talk to your pediatrician if episodes are frequent, risky or come with other symptoms
Who This Is For
- You found your child up and walking around, confused, a short while after bedtime
- You are not sure whether to wake them
- You want to make the house safer at night
- You want to know whether this is normal or needs a doctor
This page is about children. If you are an adult who sleepwalks, read sleepwalking in adults instead.
What Sleepwalking Looks Like in Children
The NHS explains that sleepwalking happens when you partly wake from deep sleep in a way that means you can move but your brain is not fully awake. It says sleepwalking is more common in children and that most children grow out of it without treatment by the time they are teenagers.
KidsHealth says children typically sleepwalk within an hour or two of falling asleep, and an episode can last from a few seconds to 30 minutes. It also notes that sleepwalking may run in families, so a child with a sleepwalking parent may be more likely to do it. The American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) makes the same point about families and adds that older children and teens can sleepwalk more than once a night.
If your child instead screams and seems terrified, that may be a night terror, which is covered in night terrors vs. nightmares in children.
What to Do During an Episode
- Stay calm and stay close. Make sure the path is clear and the child is not near stairs, doors or windows.
- Guide them back to bed. KidsHealth says to try not to wake a sleepwalker, because it might scare your child, and to gently guide them back to bed instead. HealthyChildren.org also advises gently leading them back to bed.
One small difference between sources: the NHS also says to gently guide the person back to bed, but adds that if you need to wake them, you should do it gently, because they will be confused if woken suddenly. If you do need to rouse your child, for example because they are in a dangerous spot, do it gently.
Making the Home Safer
Safety is where you can do the most. These steps come from KidsHealth, the NHS and HealthyChildren.org:
- Lock outside doors and windows so your child cannot leave the house
- Block stairways, for example with safety gates at the top and bottom of the stairs or at the bedroom doorway
- Clear toys and clutter from the floor so nothing causes a trip
- Put sharp or breakable objects out of reach
- Avoid bunk beds, or at least keep a sleepwalking child off the top bunk
- The NHS also mentions door alarms as a way to alert you if your child tries to leave the house
A dim light on the route between the bedroom and bathroom can make a house easier to navigate. If you want to look at options, see our guide to the best nightlight for kids. The sources above do not say a nightlight prevents sleepwalking, only that it helps with seeing.
What May Make Episodes More Likely
The NHS lists not getting enough sleep, other sleep disorders, fever, certain medications and stress among the things linked to sleepwalking. For a child, the practical takeaway is to keep bedtime regular and consistent so they get enough sleep. Our guide to why children will not sleep through the night covers bedtime routines by age.
KidsHealth mentions that, for frequent episodes, a doctor may suggest scheduled awakenings, which means gently rousing the child shortly before the time they usually sleepwalk. Do not try this without talking to your pediatrician first.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Shaking or shouting to wake them. It may frighten and confuse your child.
- Assuming the bedroom door is enough. A child can still reach stairs and outside doors.
- Putting a sleepwalker in the top bunk. Falls are a real risk.
When to See a Doctor
Occasional sleepwalking in a child usually needs no treatment. Based on KidsHealth, the NHS and HealthyChildren.org, speak to your pediatrician or GP if:
- Episodes are very regular
- Your child does something dangerous, or there is a real risk of injury
- Your child is very sleepy in the daytime
- You notice breathing problems at night, such as breathing that stops and starts during sleep (see what sleep apnea is and when to see a doctor)
- Sleepwalking continues into the early teen years
HealthyChildren.org encourages parents to raise any worry about a child’s sleep with their pediatrician. If your child has hurt themselves or tried to leave the home, get advice promptly.
FAQ
Should I wake a sleepwalking child?
KidsHealth advises against it, and HealthyChildren.org advises gently leading your child back to bed. The NHS says to wake someone gently if you need to, as they will be confused if woken suddenly.
When do children usually sleepwalk?
KidsHealth says typically within an hour or two of falling asleep, for anywhere from a few seconds to 30 minutes.
Will my child grow out of sleepwalking?
Often, yes. The NHS says most children grow out of it without treatment by the time they are teenagers. If it continues into the early teen years, KidsHealth suggests speaking to a doctor.
Does sleepwalking run in families?
It can. KidsHealth and HealthyChildren.org both say sleepwalking tends to run in families.
How do I keep a sleepwalking child safe?
Lock outside doors and windows, block stairways, clear floor clutter, put sharp objects out of reach and avoid top bunks.
Key Takeaways
Sleepwalking is common in children and usually fades by the teens. During an episode, stay calm and gently guide your child back to bed. Focus on safety: lock doors and windows, block stairs, clear the floor and avoid top bunks. Speak to a doctor if episodes are very regular, risky, come with sleepiness or breathing problems, or continue into the early teens.
About this article
Written by the Sleep Fixes editorial team. We’re not medical professionals. We research each topic against primary sources and hold ourselves to being critical and thorough about what actually makes it onto the site.
This article is part of Sleep Fixes, a site focused on practical, easy-to-follow solutions for common sleep problems. It is not medical advice. If your symptoms are severe, persistent, or worsening, consider consulting a qualified healthcare professional.