Sleepwalking

This peaks during the early part of the night, so sleepwalking tends to occur in the first few hours after falling asleep.

Sleepwalking can start at any age but is more common in children. It's thought 1 in 5 children will sleepwalk at least once.

The exact cause of sleepwalking is unknown, but it seems to run in families. Other sleep disorders that can cause you to frequently wake up suddenly during the night, such as obstructive sleep apnoea and restless legs syndrome , can also trigger a sleepwalking episode. Taking steps to prevent some of these triggers — such as making sure you get enough sleep, and working on strategies to deal with and reduce stress — will often help.

Some episodes of sleepwalking may involve just sitting up in bed and looking around, briefly appearing confused, while in others they may get out of bed and walk about, open cupboards, get dressed or eat, and may appear agitated.

In extreme cases, the person may walk out of the house and carry out complex activities, such as driving a car. The eyes are usually open while someone is sleepwalking, although the person will look straight through people and not recognise them. In some cases, stress or certain medications can contribute to sleepwalking. You can try steps to manage your stress, like reading a book or taking a warm bath before bedtime. Sleepwalking can be dangerous to the sleepwalker. One important step that you can take to make the situation safer for the sleepwalker is to remove any sharp or dangerous objects from the room, such as glass vases or tables with sharp corners.

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If traveling, a person who is a sleepwalker should always try to stay on the first floor, or in a room without a balcony and a solid locked window. This will help the sleepwalker prevent injury.

Locking doors and windows is also a strategy to promote safety. It also might be wise to install gates at the top of staircases to prevent dangerous falls.

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Alcohol use can sometimes trigger sleepwalking episodes. Avoiding alcohol might help to prevent sleepwalking in some people.

Search Site Enter the terms you wish to search for. Sleepwalking Sleepwalking refers to a type of sleep disorder that involves walking while in a deep sleep. Facts about sleepwalking Sleepwalking is much more common in children than in adults. Types of sleepwalking Sleepwalking can differ slightly depending on when it occurs at night: Symptoms The symptoms of sleepwalking go beyond just walking while in deep sleep. Sleepwalkers' eyes are open, but they don't see the same way they do when they're awake.

They'll often think they're in different rooms of the house or different places altogether. Sleepwalkers tend to go back to bed on their own and they won't remember what happened in the morning.

Sleepwalking may run in families and sometimes happens when a person is sick, has a fever , is not getting enough sleep, or is stressed. If sleepwalking happens a lot, every night or so, it's a good idea for your mom or dad to take you to see your doctor. But sleepwalking once in a while usually isn't something to worry about. Still, it may look funny or even scary for the people who see a sleepwalker in action.

It's important, of course, to keep a sleepwalker safe.

Precautions should be taken so the person is less likely to fall down, run into something, or walk out the front door while sleepwalking.