CHILD’S NIGHT TERRORS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1938, Page 4

CHILD’S NIGHT TERRORS

DUE TO SEVERAL CAUSES. INDIGESTION AND EXCITEMENT. Night terrors and restlessness during sleep are constantly caused in an older child by indigestion and gases in ’ the gastric and intestinal regions. Bad dreams, talking, and muttering are also abnormalities that can usually be ; traced to some temporary causes. Broken sleep may occur when the child of a nervous temperament has had undue excitement just prior to his bedtime. Indigestion and gastric troubles may be caused by a heavy meal too near his bedtime. The mother should check the character and quantity of food the child takes, and dietetic restrictions shohld be observed. It may be that the child has had an actual fright or that some thoughtless person has told a gruesome tale in his hearing. The presence of adenoids, forcing the child to breathe through his mouth, will cause restlessness; also, heavy bedclothes and overheating will make him disturbed and talk in his sleep. Every child should have a peaceful, serene hour before bedtime. The whole day will need reviewing —the meals he eats; the time of his meals; how much sleep he gets, and the comfort of his bed; the playmates he has; whom he comes into contact with during the day; an examination to see if adenoids are the trouble. The very unhappy terror-stricken child may need, in addition to the revised day, a change of environment, peaceful suggestions at bedtime, and perhapes a sedative, but-that only on medical advice. Patience and gentle care are necessary. Commonplace remarks made of the events causing the fright, without undue stress being laid on them, will also contribute towards peace being restored to the child.