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Sleepwalking and children

Question:

Is sleepwalking normal for children?

Answer:

Sleepwalking is a disturbance in which someone gets up out of bed and walks without being aware of the event. It is most often triggered by poor sleep habits.

In children, sleepwalking starts between ages 6 and 12 years. It occurs more often in boys than girls. Children outgrow sleepwalking in most cases.

If you can, gently steer someone who is sleepwalking safely back to bed. Try to make the home safer by adding gates to stairways and other safety measures to prevent injury.

Trying to stick to a bedtime routine may help reduce the problem.

Open References

References

Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.

Owens JA, Gueye-Ndiaye S. Sleep medicine. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 31.

  • Sleepwalking

    Sleepwalking - illustration

    Sleepwalking is not uncommon in children and is often triggered by a disruption in the child's regular sleep pattern or by a fever. It is usually harmless and is outgrown by early adolescence.

    Sleepwalking

    illustration

  • Sleepwalking

    Sleepwalking - illustration

    Sleepwalking is not uncommon in children and is often triggered by a disruption in the child's regular sleep pattern or by a fever. It is usually harmless and is outgrown by early adolescence.

    Sleepwalking

    illustration

 

Review Date: 1/1/2025

Reviewed By: Charles I. Schwartz, MD, FAAP, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, General Pediatrician at PennCare for Kids, Phoenixville, PA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

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