If your toddler is waking up screaming, they could be having a parasomnia, AKA nightmare or night terror.

These are just two types of parasomnia - disruptive sleep disorders that we see others include sleep walking, sleep talking and confusional arousals. Both nightmares and night terrors can start to surface in toddlerhood.

Often we can minimise the risk of nightmares occurring by - Keeping a consistent wake up and bed time routine, Reducing screen time in the evening. Sleep conducive environment.

If your child wakes, screaming and calling out for you, it is most likely they've woken up from a nightmare and not a night terror. With nightmares, you want to provide reassurance and ensure your little one feels safe and secure. This may take a little bit of time overnight, patience is key. They are scared. While night terrors occur when your little one is overtired or unwell, the positive is your toddler won't have any recollection of a night terror despite how distressing it may seem to us, but they will remember a nightmare - this is a key way YOU can distinguish what it is that's going on for your child. Night terrors generally occur shortly after going to sleep - within the first few hours of falling asleep and occur in N-REM (deep sleep).

Don't try to wake up your child if they're experiencing a night terror, this can prolong the episode. Let it run it's course and keep them safe