A 5-year-old on a baseball team experiences sleepwalking; what safety measure is recommended?

A 5-year-old on a baseball team experiences sleepwalking; what safety measure is recommended?

• A. Establishing a graduated extinction program and good sleep hygiene
• B. Making sure that stairs are blocked and doors are locked
• C. Referral to a sleep disorder clinic
• D. To awaken the child when these occur and asking about nightmares

Answer: (B)

Sleepwalking in children is common and usually harmless, but the priority is to prevent injury during episodes. Keeping the home safe by blocking stairs with a gate and locking doors directly reduces the risk if the child wanders at night. Other approaches don’t address the immediate danger as effectively: strategies aimed at bedtime behavior don’t fix wandering risks, referring to a sleep clinic is only needed if episodes are frequent or concerning, and waking the child during an episode is generally avoided because it can be disruptive and doesn’t reliably prevent future episodes. In practice, also ensure the child gets adequate, regular sleep, remove hazards from the environment, and gently guide them back to bed if they wander.

Sleepwalking in children is common and usually harmless, but the priority is to prevent injury during episodes. Keeping the home safe by blocking stairs with a gate and locking doors directly reduces the risk if the child wanders at night. Other approaches don’t address the immediate danger as effectively: strategies aimed at bedtime behavior don’t fix wandering risks, referring to a sleep clinic is only needed if episodes are frequent or concerning, and waking the child during an episode is generally avoided because it can be disruptive and doesn’t reliably prevent future episodes. In practice, also ensure the child gets adequate, regular sleep, remove hazards from the environment, and gently guide them back to bed if they wander.