My Son Sleep Walks!

I sleepwalked when I was a child as well (one time I climbed out of my top bunk the wrong way and fell and hit my ankle on a dresser- never woke up. My ankle was nice and swollen though.) I eventually grew out of it- it only lasted about a year. My mom just made sure I was ok and would escort me back to bed. Unless he has other emotional issues, I wouldn't worry about it. Lots of kids do this.

a friend took down the bedroom door to her son's room and put up a screen door. That way he couldn't get out and they could hear him.

my daughter (5) has done this a couple of times (she talks a lot in her sleep, but has only gotten up a few times). I have kept her in our room for now since we just moved into a 2 story. If she does get out of bed I just direct her back and talk quietly to her until she is back asleep.

Hi S.,

When my son was four or so, he too did some sleepwalking. We were concerend about it too, but he did out grow it completely in about 3 years. He is 16 now, and is the soundest sleeper I know.

We dediced to put slider locks on the tops of all of the doors leading outside, to prevent him from going out while we were all sleeping.

Other than that, it was mostly harmless.

Hope that helps ease your mind??

S.

S.,

I had the same symptoms with my oldest child. Her sleepwalking turned into night terrors. She would become completely hysterical for no reason, one time I happened to be up at midnight and heard the front door open. She was running down the driveway by the time I reached her. I contacted her Dr. and did research on the internet. It helped me understand what was going on. Eventually she grew out of it. I wish I could be more help.

LOL

Sleepwalking runs in my husband's side of the family. My father-in-law does it, my husband does it, and now my 2-year-old does. It's a strange thing. They have their eyes open and can navigate hallways or doors just fine, but they aren't in the same reality as the rest of us. My mother-in-law tells a story of being woken up in the middle of the night by her husband yelling at an "intruder". He was sitting upright in bed yelling at a dark corner. Then he collapsed into a deep sleep, leaving my poor mother-in-law half panicked and worried that maybe someone was in the house.

I was particuarly amused at my husband when I woke up to find him "folding clothes". He had his eyes open, and was going through the proper motions, but he was obviously asleep; he didn't react if clothes fell out of his hands before he was done "folding" them, tried to fold everything as he would a towel, and often picked up an item to "fold" it again.

Stairs are a little scary. My 2-year old will sometimes fall back into a deep sleep *while* sleepwalking, meaning that he falls flat on his face. This doesn't seem to bother him.

In my experience, it's just fine to wake a sleepwalker. They are usually *very* disoriented, however. I usually call them by name and tell them, "You're asleep. Go back to bed." over and over until they finally register what I'm saying. My oldest used to sleepwalk when he was little, and his particular oddity was that he would actually try to hold a conversation with you. It wasn't very coherent, though. I could say, "Donovan, what's your name?" and he'd say, "I don't know!" It would take a while to get the right answer, but once I did, I knew he was awake. Well, at least awake enough to go to sleep...LOL.

Hi! S.,

Not all but most children do sleep walk. As far hurting themselves most of the time they won't they know there way around, even if it a new house, they will grow out of it, till then it will drive you and your husband crazy worring. the best things you can do are put either sliding bolts or chain locks at the top of the doors exiting the house, and any other door that they dont need to be into for their protection. It is not a bad idea to put child safety locks on cabinets to keep them out, sleep walkers like to explore.
I hope this helps you out a bit!