Although little research has been done on the subject, some sleep experts believe not only toddlers – but infants – are affected by night terrors.

Often simply trying to awaken and comfort their daughter when the night terrors begin works. The biggest thing is to remain totally calm. This medical advice takes a common sense route, encouraging parents to calm and reassure themselves as well as their children.

Fathers must remember that if they are frightened, their fears can be transmitted to the child, which can make night terrors more frequent and more intense. It becomes a vicious cycle of fright.

The difference between Night Terrors and Nightmares

Night terrors – which have a physiological cause – are very different from nightmares or other night awakenings caused by previous psychological trauma.

A few months after Shelia Jordan’s granddaughter was born, the infant survived a car wreck that killed her mother. Today, at 3 years old, Jordan’s granddaughter is haunted by nightmares triggered after she hears loud noises reminiscent of the car crash, Jordan believes.

Unlike night terrors, which are largely caused by a physical reaction, nightmares can be caused by the subconscious recollection of a traumatic incident, says Dr. Paul Saskin, clinical director of Sunrise Hospital’s Regional Center for Sleep Disorders in Las Vegas, Nev.