A mom writes in asking for advice about her 11-year-old child, a daughter, who has started sleepwalking recently. She says she’s recently found her twice in the middle of the night out of her room, doing odd things, which her daughter doesn’t remember the next day. This is “completely new” for this mom, and she’s wondering if any other moms have advice for her and her daughter.
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A member of the community asks:
“My 11-year-old has started sleepwalking: Advice?
My daughter is 11, and she recently started sleepwalking. This is completely new to me. I’ve found her twice in the past three nights, and I’m worried she will wander off. First, she was in the bathroom brushing her hair (2 nights ago and she doesn’t remember it), and tonight she was in the kitchen rummaging through the cupboards. Advice?”
– Mamas Uncut Community Member
Community Advice for This Mom Whose Child Has Started Sleepwalking
To see what advice the Mamas Uncut Facebook community has for this mom in need and her child, read the comments of the post embedded below.
Advice Summary
The community offered this mom and her child in need a lot of great advice. Read some of their responses below.
“My daughter has sleepwalked for years. We baby proof the house as best as possible.”
“My sister would sleepwalk when we were younger. She once walked out of the house into a neighbor’s and put the gas fire on. Windchimes on your door should alert you to her leaving her room.”
“My son has to take Benedryl to help him sleep better and stay asleep. If he doesn’t, he will sleepwalk and talk to you in his sleep. He’s 12 and has sleepwalked since he was little.”
“I use to do this. She will grow out of it. Just make sure to keep doors locked and not to startle her and walk her back to bed.”
“My son was sleepwalking at age 2. The best advice I can give you is babyproofing: put a gate on her door that’s difficult to open, make sure you have extra-secure locks on windows and for your door that leads outside. The best one is the chain lock at the top of the door and a deadbolt. Eventually, my son grew out of it an now just sleep talks, but good luck mama!”
“Oh wow my brother used to sleepwalk and open the door and walk all the way outside to the pavement. Luckily my mom started to put a chair on the door and she would hear the noise.”
“I used to do this. She will grow out of it. Just make sure to keep doors locked and not to startle her and walk her back to bed.”
“I used to sleepwalk when I was a kid from 4 till I was about 12. I would go through the fridge or talk to my grandma… And to my family’s knowledge, I never tried to go outside… But if it would make you feel better, try a chain lock on your doors high enough she can’t reach…”
“Put some bells on her door so you can hear if she leaves her room. My MIL found my sister-in-law in a paddock full of bulls one morning, she had managed to get through the electric fence into the bull paddock without waking up or being shocked.”
“I have sleepwalkers, 4 of them. They got it from their dads who also would sleepwalk. It’s normal, my older two are almost 15 and 13 and they’re just starting to outgrow it. Just make sure to install alarms for windows and doors and let your neighbors know in case they see her wandering at night.”
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