Sleepwalking
Sleepwalking is when someone gets up and does things while they are still asleep. It usually happens during deep sleep, often in the first few hours after going to bed.
Sleepwalking can happen to both children and adults, but it is more common in children.
- About 1 in 10 children aged 5–12 will sleepwalk at least once
- Around 6% do it once a week or more
- It is usually just a phase that children grow out of
- Boys are slightly more likely to sleepwalk than girls
It is rarely caused by a medical problem.
What happens when someone sleepwalks?
Sleepwalking can look different from person to person. Someone might:
- Sit up in bed and look around
- Get out of bed and walk around
- Get dressed or eat
- Leave the house (in rare cases, people have even driven)
They may look awake, with their eyes open, but they are not fully aware. They might talk, but it may not make sense. They often won’t recognise people.
Most episodes last about 10 minutes, but they can be longer. Some people sleepwalk rarely, while others do it more often.
What causes sleepwalking?
Common triggers include:
- Not getting enough sleep
- Stress
- Alcohol or drugs
- Illness
- Some medications
- Family history (it can run in families)
Should you wake a sleepwalker?
It is best not to startle them. Instead just calmly comfort them and lead the child/adult back to bed. They often just go back to sleep again. Naturally if there is potential physical danger, then try to gently wake them up.
Can you treat sleepwalking?
There is no specific treatment but for many, improving sleep hygiene can help to eliminate the problem, reducing stress and creating a calm, sleep friendly bedroom.
Sleepwalking is rarely a sign of anything serious but if you have any concerns, consider seeing your GP.