Which information should a nurse provide to parents of a child experiencing sleep terrors?

Providing the correct information about sleep terrors is vital for parents to understand what their child is experiencing and how to manage it. Sleep terrors typically occur during non-REM sleep, usually in the first third of the night, which generally falls in the 1-4 hour range after the child has fallen asleep. This timing indicates that these episodes happen during deeper stages of sleep, making children difficult to awaken during the event.

When sleep terrors occur, children may appear distressed and may exhibit screaming or thrashing; however, they typically do not recall the episode afterward and remain largely unresponsive to attempts to comfort or soothe them, which contrasts with the idea that they would wake fully or become aware of their surroundings immediately after an episode. Therefore, understanding that sleep terrors occur within this specific time frame is crucial for parents in managing and coping with their child's sleep disturbances.