First, consider the type of bed on which your child sleeps. While many children are able to successfully climb out of them while seemingly sound asleep, high places such as bunk beds or loft beds do involve an inherent risk of falling. If your children love their bunk beds, insist that your sleepwalking youngster always takes the bottom bunk.

Sleepwalkers may attempt to venture out of the house, so installing extra locks on all of the doors in your home will help protect your child. A deadbolt high up on the doorframe will thwart most children. Another option is to install alarms that will alert you if an exterior door or the door to your child’s bedroom is opened.

Mount safety gates at the top or bottom of any staircases in your home, including steps to the basement or attic, to help prevent falls. Keeping walkways cleared of objects your child might trip over or bump into, such as toys, electrical cords or floor lamps will also help ward off injury.

The thought of a child who is prone to sleepwalking going away to a slumber party or overnight camp can send any parent into a panic. You can send your youngster off with greater peace of mind by making the adults in charge aware of her nocturnal practices. Ask camp counselors to have another camper sleep lengthwise against the tent door to prevent your child from wandering off. Let your child’s friend’s parents know if your sleepwalker tends to become mobile at a certain time each night, so that they can be more attentive then.

A final option that will help protect your child whether sleeping away from home, on a set of bunk beds or anywhere is a special sleepwalking alarm. These devices attach to your child’s pajamas on one end and bedding on another. If the device is removed from either end, the alarm will alert you immediately.