Sleepwalking: is it a problem?

[Anonymous]

Our kid has always been a sleepwalker. Two to three times a night, he'll walk out of his room into the living room or kitchen, often on some imaginary errand, telling us that he forgot to feed his cat, or that he's looking for a book. But he's completely asleep and never remembers these conversations in the morning.

Once or twice, he's picked up his school backpack and headed for the front door, insisting it was time to catch the bus. We've caught him both times and put a chain lock up high on the door as well. A couple times, he's headed for the bathroom but ended up peeing in his closet.

Should we worry about the sleepwalking if he seems otherwise fine?

Cheerful kid, does well in school, doesn't seem stressed or sad, and the sleepwalking doesn't seem to disrupt rest. He's now 12, and this has been going on for years. Pediatricians have not seemed concerned, but I still wonder.

[Anonymous]

Sorry nobody has any insight, OP. My kid sleepwalks too and although he's only 7, I'm curious how much of an issue this will be for us. I find it's worse when his room is too hot or we are in a new environment.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who sleepwalked into his 20s. The closest he got to danger was going to the kitchen and making himself a sandwich, using a knife to spread mayo on the bread His parents definitely worried about him but all was well. He kind of grew out of it in his early 20s.

Have you spoken to the pediatrician?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a friend who sleepwalked into his 20s. The closest he got to danger was going to the kitchen and making himself a sandwich, using a knife to spread mayo on the bread His parents definitely worried about him but all was well. He kind of grew out of it in his early 20s.

Have you spoken to the pediatrician?

Sorry, just saw that you did. Does the frequency correlate with anything he does/doesn't do during his awake hours? Is he more tired or does it happen more on school nights, etc.? I would probably keep a journal and try to look for a pattern.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who would sleepwalk and then turn off her alarm clock. No insight. I hope you can figure it out.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I'd keep records and see if it's:
1. when it's hot in his bedroom
2. did he eat dinner later when it happens? I used to have horrible dreams if I eat a heavy dinner late.
3. when he's in a new environment (hotel, etc?)
4. when he's under stress (test tomorrow, camp is starting soon, school starts soon, going to grandma's to sleep over, finding out tomorrow if he made the team/play, etc)
5. when he's overtired
6 .when he goes to bed earlier than usual
7. when he goes to bed later than usual
8. some other pattern

seems like it's not #3 as he does it at home.

I did it when I was a child a LOT (I'd wake up on the floor, thought I'd fallen out of bed but looking back, I had put myself there), there were some times my parents saw me do it at a hotel, and one lovely time my boyfriend woke me up when I was sleepwalking in his bedroom (that was embarrassing) and that's about the last time I know I did it. My husband doesn't report I do it. Seemed to have stopped when I was about 28-30.

I never went for the doors, though. I might put a lock on the closet door (that he can easily do when he's awake) to keep him from using the closet as a bathroom.

[Anonymous]

If you have stairs could be dangerous

[Anonymous]

If there are no injuries and you feel comfortable, then this is not a problem.

[Anonymous]

I was a sleepwalker but I think it ended around puberty. The worst thing that ever happened was that I plugged the tub in the upstairs bathroom and started a bath, then went back to bed. I woke up to my poor confused parents trying to mop up the water that had burst through the ceiling in their downstairs bedroom.

[Anonymous]

My friend in college opened his window and fell out while sleepwalking. It was very scary and he broke both legs. I would take extra safety precautions.

[Anonymous]

I did that once around 10 years old - found myself on the street in front of my house in the middle of the night. Quite scary. There are pediatric sleep specialists - I'd suggest you consult one.

[Anonymous]

I have had very similar sleepwalking incidents my entire life. It actually went away in my 20's and most of my thirties and came back in the last few years since I've had children. In my case I think it is aggravated by stress, but not always. It perplexes my husband and creeps him out a bit but he has gotten used to it. He has found that if you uses the same phrase, "Everything is ok, you are sleeping" I will usually wake up and go back to bed. I think you should try to get guidance from a professional. I sort of resented that my parents that they never took it seriously. They said I always seemed happy during the day. When it got really bad in middle school and I was often exhausted.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who would sleepwalk and then turn off her alarm clock.