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16 Hudson Valley Parent n September 2018 out when their child typically experiences night terrors and wake him up 15 to 30 minutes before- hand. "This interrupts their sleep cycle so that the night terror never has a chance to happen," says Dr. Becker-Weidman. While this option has a high success rate, it can be difficult for a parent to get the timing right. Dr. Becker-Weidman suggests trying the Lully Sleep Guardian device, which uses a special algorithm to learn about your child's sleep patterns and calculate awakening times. "It also gently vibrates each night so that your child's night terror is prevented but their sleep isn't totally disturbed," she says. While most children will eventually grow out of their night terrors, there are several signs that a parent should consult a doctor. Dr. Becker-Weidman says to contact a pediatrician if your child has drooling, jerking, or stiffening during night terrors, if they last longer than 30 minutes, if your child does something dangerous during an episode, if your child has daytime fears or if other symptoms occur with the night terrors. If you feel family stress may be a factor, it may be time to connect with a professional. If other children in the household are scared or stressed by a sibling's night terrors, Dr. Karlin says parents should educate them about what night terrors are and include them in a pre-bedtime calming routine. "Include everyone in the nighttime routine to empower family members to support the child and assist in lowering their own stress levels," he says. NIGHT TERRORS (Continued from Page 15)