As a parent, the first time you see your child sleepwalking can make you very nervous and worried. Some people are surprised to find out that sleepwalking is fairly common in children. Most children who sleepwalk only do it occasionally and outgrow it by the time they are teenagers. Although is often a benign condition, it is important to ensure that you take all the necessary safety precautions in and outside your home.
Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that occurs during deep sleep (non-REM or non-dream sleep). It doesn’t always involve walking. The common behaviours that most children can do include sitting up in bed and doing repeated movements (such as rubbing their eyes), talking, and sometimes walking around their room. Children tend to sleepwalk within the first hour or two of going to bed. Your child won’t respond to you when they’re sleepwalking, and the next day, they probably won’t remember any of it. If you wake up to find your child is sleepwalking, just gently bring them back to their bed.
Sleepwalking is not usually a sign that something is emotionally or psychologically wrong with a child, nor does sleepwalking cause a child any emotional harm.