Sleepwalking happens when you partly wake from deep sleep, so your body can move but your brain is not fully awake. It is common in children, up to 17% of whom sleepwalk, and less common in adults, at up to 4%. Lack of sleep, stress, fever, alcohol and some medicines can trigger it, and it runs in families. Most children grow out of it; the main job is keeping the sleepwalker safe.
Not getting enough sleep is one of the main triggers. The sleep debt calculator shows how much sleep you or your child are missing each week.
What Is Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking, also called somnambulism, is a parasomnia, a sleep disorder involving unwanted events during sleep (AASM Sleep Education). A sleepwalker gets up and moves around while still asleep. Their eyes are usually open but their face looks blank, and they cannot respond normally to what is around them (NHS).
Most episodes are routine actions, such as getting dressed or walking around the house. Less often, sleepwalkers eat, move furniture, leave the house or, rarely, drive. It usually happens in the first part of the night, lasts a few minutes, and is not remembered afterwards (NHS).
What Causes Sleepwalking?
Sleepwalking happens when you partly wake from deep sleep in a way that lets you move while your brain is not fully awake. It is not known exactly why, but it is linked to (NHS):
| Trigger | Notes |
|---|---|
| Not getting enough sleep | The most common and the easiest to change |
| Other sleep conditions | Such as sleep apnoea or restless legs syndrome |
| Being unwell with a high temperature | Especially in children |
| Certain medicines | Such as sleeping pills |
| Stress | Including big life changes |
| Alcohol | MedlinePlus also lists sedatives and some other medicines |
In older adults, new sleepwalking can be a symptom of a medical problem affecting thinking and memory, so it should be checked (MedlinePlus). Breathing problems in sleep can also trigger episodes; the sleep apnea risk calculator checks the warning signs.
Who Is Most Likely To Sleepwalk?
Sleepwalking is more common in children and affects boys and girls. The rate in children is as high as 17%, and up to 4% of adults sleepwalk (AASM). There is a strong genetic and family link, so it is more likely if other family members sleepwalk. Children who sleepwalk often also talk in their sleep or have sleep terrors.
Is Sleepwalking Dangerous?
Sleepwalking itself is not harmful, but sleepwalkers can hurt themselves by falling, tripping, using stairs or leaving the house. Rarely, sleepwalking involves hostile or violent behaviour, and adults who continue or start to sleepwalk are at greater risk of injury (AASM). That is why safety comes first.
How Do You Keep A Sleepwalker Safe?
- Keep doors and windows closed, and use stair gates for children.
- Keep floors clear and remove anything someone could trip on.
- Lock away sharp objects such as knives and tools.
- Fit door alarms if there is a risk of leaving the house.
- Do not let a child who sleepwalks sleep in the top bunk.
These steps come from NHS advice (NHS); MedlinePlus also suggests blocking stairways with a gate (MedlinePlus).
What Should You Do When Someone Is Sleepwalking?
Gently guide them back to bed. If you need to wake them, do it gently: someone woken suddenly will be confused and may be scared (NHS). They are very unlikely to remember the episode in the morning. Do not shout, grab or restrain them unless they are in immediate danger.
How Can You Prevent Sleepwalking?
- Get enough sleep. Relax before bed, avoid daytime naps, and go to bed and get up at the same times each day.
- Manage stress with a calm wind-down before bed.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol in the evening.
- Keep a sleep diary, noting bedtime, how well you slept, caffeine, alcohol, tiredness and stress, to spot your triggers.
The first four steps are NHS advice (NHS). Do not stop taking a prescribed medicine without talking to a doctor, even if you think it is a trigger. For a full routine, see sleep hygiene 101.
Do Children Grow Out Of Sleepwalking?
Usually, yes. For children, sleepwalking tends to go away on its own as they enter the teenage years, and most do not need treatment beyond keeping them safe (AASM; NHS). Making sure a child gets enough sleep for their age helps.
What Is Sleepwalking Like In Adults?
Adult sleepwalking is less common and tends to be taken more seriously. Adults might dream or hallucinate while they sleepwalk, can be very hard to wake, and may be confused or even lash out at the person who wakes them. Men are more likely than women to show aggressive behaviour when they sleepwalk, and an adult who continues or starts to sleepwalk is at greater risk of injury (AASM). If you share a home with an adult who sleepwalks, put the safety steps above in place and encourage a doctor visit.
What Should A Sleepwalking Diary Record?
A two-week diary helps you and a doctor spot triggers. Note each day:
| Record | Example |
|---|---|
| Bedtime and wake time | 11:30 PM, 6:30 AM |
| How well you slept | Poor, ok, good |
| Caffeine and alcohol | Coffee at 4 PM; two drinks |
| Tiredness and stress | Very tired; exam week |
| Sleepwalking? | Yes, about 1 AM, found in kitchen |
When Should You See A Doctor About Sleepwalking?
See a doctor if sleepwalking is frequent or persistent, if the sleepwalker does dangerous things such as driving, if it starts for the first time in adulthood or older age, or if it comes with injuries, violent behaviour or heavy daytime sleepiness (MedlinePlus; AASM). A sleep doctor may ask for a two-week sleep diary and may arrange a sleep study to look for another cause, such as another sleep disorder, a medical condition or a medicine.
How Is Sleepwalking Different From Other Night-Time Events?
| Sleepwalking | Nightmares | Sleep paralysis | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep stage | Deep sleep, early in the night | REM, late in the night | Falling asleep or waking |
| Moving? | Yes | No | Cannot move |
| Memory | Usually none | Usually clear | Aware throughout |
Read more about nightmares and scary dreams.
Check whether short sleep could be a trigger with the sleep debt calculator.
Sleepwalking FAQs
Is It Dangerous To Wake A Sleepwalker?
It is not harmful, but they will be confused and may be scared. Guide them back to bed gently, and wake them gently if you need to.
Why Does My Child Sleepwalk?
Sleepwalking is common in children, especially if it runs in the family, and is often triggered by tiredness, illness with fever or stress.
Can Adults Start Sleepwalking?
Yes, though it is less common. New sleepwalking in adulthood is worth discussing with a doctor.
Do Sleepwalkers Remember What They Did?
Usually not. Sometimes they recall fragments.
Can Stress Cause Sleepwalking?
Yes. Stress is one of the known triggers, along with lack of sleep, fever, alcohol and some medicines.
Does Sleepwalking Need Treatment?
Usually not, especially in children, but safety steps are important. See a doctor if it is frequent, dangerous or new in adulthood.