how dangerous is sleepwalking?

Question

just recently i noticed that my 10 year old son sleep walks. He rarely gets further than the living room because i am in there and i answer his questions and tell him he's sleep walking, then i send him back to bed.what are his chances of going outside?is there any way to stop him from sleep walking?

Answer 1

its not too dangerous, and its surprisingly more common in kids than adults. it occurs in NREM sleep, and more specifically in stages 3 and 4 of sleep. people who sleep walk typically spend a greater proportion of their sleep in stages 3 and 4. if you keep the doors and windows locked he shouldnt be able to get outside, and you can also wake him up, its perfectly safe. i cant really tell you how to stop it, but hopefully he will outgrow it. the amount of sleep we get tends to decline as we grow older, especially the NREM portion. good luck!

Answer 2

I used to have a terrible time sleepwalking when I was younger between the ages of 6-10. My parents ended up calling the police once because I was no where to be found. The police found me down the street at the park. The worse thing you can do is to wake up a sleep walker. It is very easy to shock them into heart failure. You could put a lock on the door that requires a key to open from the inside as well as the outside. Make sure your windows are locked as well. That is how my mom said I was getting out of the house. I had ended up in some pretty strange places....the attic, the garage rafters, the neighbors livingroom. I grew out of it, my doctor told my parents that it had to do with something that I was anxious about. My parents were seperating a lot during that time. You may want to consult your doctor to see if he recommends a specialist you can take your son to. See if there is an underlying problem or if it is just something he is dreaming about.

Answer 3

There was a recent Dateline or 20/20 where they showed that sleepwalking can be very dangerous. A teen threw himself out a window. Another young man was killed when he was sleep walking and walked onto a busy street. In fact, they now suspect that a good number of suicides may have actually been sleepwalking accidents. The one of the young man in traffic was originally thought to be suicide but they figured it out because he had a pattern of sleep walking and dreaming of being near a certain road--the one he died on.

I'm not trying to scare you but the reality is that it can be very dangerous. However, many kids outgrow it. My husband was found at the kitchen table EATING!! and he was asleep! That was when he was a kid. He never sleep walks now.

I'd look into it more. Maybe even ask your family doctor if anything can be done. It probably isn't a big deal but just to be on the safe side.

Answer 4

Apart from physical restraint or locking his door there isnt much you can do. A certain element of danger recognition remains even though hes asleep but the danger of him trying to go outside is there. Get a lock on the doors and remove the keys when locked at night.
I sleep walked when I was a kid and nebver got into any danger, thye are rare cases.

Answer 5

Normal.

He'll outgrow it.

Keep the doors locked.

Most sleepwalking children do it before 10 or 11 pm. After that in too deep a sleep.

Answer 6

I had a brother, when he wqs young who slept-walked, and my Mom would find him outside. I, personally think it is dangerous. I would get some locks on all doors in your house that he cannot reach. Do something to protect your son before something does happen. You don't want to wait for a what if?

Answer 7

i think it is dangerous, i myself found out recently i sleep walk. i woke up at 4am outside in 25 degree weather with shorts and tank top and my keeps in my hands. i went to the doctor because i was scared because i don't know what would have happened if i wouldnt have woke up. the doctor gave me a some meds to calm me down at night then said my sleep walking was from stress. i would take him to the doctor if it continues because ppl have died from sleep walking and freezing to death outside.

Answer 8

Talk to his pediatrician. Yes it is possible he could get outside.My step daughter used to sleep walk, and she went outside all the time. She grew out of it, but if you are concerned, you should speakto a professional.

Answer 9

At his age,it's less dangerous,but I sleepwalk,cook,call people on my cell,act nutty,and have od'd twice by taking prescription meds several times in my sleepwalking state.

Answer 10

Not as dangerous as sleeping and driving a motorbike.