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hvparent.com n Hudson Valley Parent 15 no memory of the episode afterward, they can be deeply disturbing to parents and other children in the household. "The best way to handle a night terror is to wait it out patiently and make sure the child doesn't get hurt if thrashing around," Dr. Becker-Weidman says. "Kids usually settle down and return to sleep on their own in a few minutes. Watching a child experience a night terror can be scary for a parent, but try to stay calm and use a reassuring voice. Don't try to hug your child or force physical contact." As much as you may want to, you should also resist the urge to try to wake your child up during a night terror. "This usually doesn't work, and kids who do wake are likely to be disoriented and confused and may take longer to settle down and go back to sleep," Dr. Becker-Weidman says. How to cope as a family While there is no cure for night terrors, there are strategies you can use to cope with them. First, it's important to make sure that your child's sleeping environmental is cool, dark and calm so that they are not overstimulated while they are trying to fall asleep. Consistency around sleeping patterns is also crucial. "Maintain a consistent routine around bedtime that include relaxing activities such as reading a book or mindfulness activities," says Dr. Todd Karlin, the Assistant Executive Director of Clinical Services at Astor Services for Children and Families. "If ongoing stress is a trigger, play or verbal therapy with a qualified professional may be helpful." Another option that often helps is a technique called "scheduled awakening." With scheduled awakenings, parents can figure (Continued on Page 16) Specializing in children of all needs from infancy to teen Sedation Dentistry available Laser revision of tongue and lip tie Child friendly environment with video games, Netflix TV and playhouse Most insurances accepted as full or partial payment.