Sleepwalking

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that causes you to move around or engage in unusual or unexpected activities while asleep. This condition often runs in families, and most people grow out of it.

The formal name for sleepwalking is somnambulism, which comes from Latin words that mean “sleep” and “walking.” Experts classify it as a sleep disorder (parasomnia).

How common is sleepwalking?

About 7% of people sleepwalk at least once in their lifetime. Sleepwalking usually starts in childhood, and most people grow out of it by the time they become adults. Within a year, about 5% to 15% of children — most often between ages 4 and 8 — and 1% to 1.5% of adults experience sleepwalking.