A sleepwalker is someone who gets up and moves around while still asleep. Sleepwalking usually happens during deep sleep, when the body somehow starts moving even though the brain hasn't fully woken up. A sleepwalker might sit up in bed, walk down the hallway, or even do simple tasks like opening doors, all while their eyes are open but they're not really aware of what they're doing.

Sleepwalking is most common in children, though some adults do it too. A sleepwalker typically doesn't remember their nighttime wandering the next morning. They might be found standing in the kitchen, sitting on the stairs, or back in bed with no memory of ever leaving it. While sleepwalking looks strange and can be startling to see, it's usually harmless. The main danger is that sleepwalkers might trip, bump into things, or walk somewhere unsafe, which is why parents often put gates at the top of stairs or bells on bedroom doors to alert them if their child is sleepwalking.

If you find a sleepwalker, the best approach is to gently guide them back to bed rather than trying to wake them suddenly, which can be confusing or frightening.