Sleepwalking facts for kids
Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, is a type of sleep problem. It is part of a group of sleep issues known as parasomnias.
When someone sleepwalks, they get out of bed and move around without being fully awake. They might do things they normally do during the day. Experts believe sleepwalking happens because the brain has trouble waking up completely.
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What Happens When Someone Sleepwalks?
Sleepwalkers can do many different things. Some actions are simple, like:
- Sitting up in bed
- Walking to the bathroom
- Cleaning things
Sometimes, the actions can be more dangerous. For example, a sleepwalker might try to cook, drive a car, or even grab at things they imagine. It's very rare, but some people have done very dangerous things while sleepwalking.
Usually, sleepwalking involves simple actions repeated over and over. There are stories about people doing very complex things, like sending emails, but these are not common. Sleepwalkers often do not remember what they did. This is because they are not truly conscious. Their eyes might be open, but they look distant or glazed over. Sleepwalking can last from just 30 seconds to about 30 minutes.
How Common is Sleepwalking?
It's hard to know exactly how many people sleepwalk. Experts guess that about 1 to 2 out of every 100 adults sleepwalk.
Sleepwalking is much more common in children. About 10 to 30 out of every 100 children might sleepwalk. Most children stop sleepwalking when they reach their teenage years, around puberty.
Most sleepwalking happens only once or a few times. It is usually a temporary thing. Sometimes, sleepwalking can run in families. This means if your parents or other family members sleepwalk, you might be more likely to sleepwalk too.
Helping a Sleepwalker
Because sleepwalkers can accidentally hurt themselves, it's a good idea to help them. You can gently wake a sleepwalker up, or you can carefully guide them back to their bed.
There are some medicines that doctors can give to help with sleepwalking. However, many experts prefer not to use medicines unless it's really necessary. This is because there isn't one specific therapy that works for everyone.
Images for kids
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Amina, the sleepwalker, at the mill.
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Mary Hoare's painting Lady Macbeth, Sleepwalking
See also
In Spanish: Sonambulismo para niños
