Nightmares occur in some children at various points in childhood. Sleep terrors or night terrors go beyond a typical nightmare to a confusing and upsetting state. Night terrors don't occur during REM sleep like nightmares. According to Kids Health by Nemours, sleep terrors are more of a reaction than an actual nightmare, usually occurring as the child moves to a different phase of sleep.

Each night in the U.S., more than 5 million children wet the bed, according to Medline Plus. Boys are more affected than girls. At the age of 7, 9 percent of boys still wet the bed, compared to 6 percent of girls. Bed wetting is involuntary urination that occurs at least twice per month, so it does not have to be a nightly occurrence for it to be considered bed wetting. There are steps you can take to help a child stop wetting his bed.

Bringing your child to bed with you may seem like the easiest thing to do when you're in desperate need of sleep and she wants to be close to you. This act, however, can spiral into the habit of your child not wanting to sleep alone. By encouraging her to sleep in her own bed, you can maintain a normal sleep routine, as well as nighttime privacy.

Involuntary urination during sleep is not uncommon. According to Medline Plus, over 5 million children in the United States wet the bed during the night. Most children outgrow bedwetting by the age of 5 or 6, but by the age of 10, 9 percent of boys and 6 percent of girls still wet the bed. Still, actions can be taken to reduce the risk of bedwetting.

How much sleep do kids need and what time should they go to bed -- these are two questions parents often ask themselves. With children's lives getting busier at younger ages, it's important to set consistent bedtime routines and to establish a time to turn off the lights for the night. While no two children are the same, there are some general guidelines recommended for children during different stages of childhood.