Near-Death Experiences in Children

When a child comes close to death and later describes something unusual, parents and doctors want to understand it. But there is surprisingly little research. This article describes what exists, what it suggests, and why it is hard to draw firm conclusions.

How much research is there?

Not much. A 2026 narrative review in the journal Psychology of Consciousness says that, compared with adults, little is known about children’s near-death experiences. It adds that there is a scarcity of studies that directly involve children. The Society for Psychical Research’s encyclopedia agrees that most claims about these experiences rest on research with adults. It says that after Melvin Morse’s studies in the early 1980s, little research has been done with children. It adds that researchers have mostly reviewed written accounts by parents, or adults looking back on their childhood, or single case studies.

What did the early studies find?

The pioneering studies were small. According to Wikipedia, Morse and colleagues published a study in 1986. It interviewed 11 children who had come close to death, such as through cardiac arrest. It compared them with 29 children who had been in intensive care without such an experience. The Seattle Times reported in 1990 that in earlier work on 12 Northwest children saved from cardiac arrest, eight described visions of leaving their bodies and traveling to other realms. These studies are decades old, and the numbers are small.

What have recent studies found?

Only pilot studies so far. The Psi Encyclopedia describes a U.K. pilot study by Donna Thomas and Graeme O’Connor, who used creative, participatory methods with children after intensive care. All participants had had a cardiac arrest, and the most common cause of admission was a heart defect. Children reported a loving darkness as part of their experiences, with no fear. One five-year-old had no memory of the arrest and resuscitation.

Are children’s experiences like adults’?

Possibly, but the evidence is limited. A Psychology Today article reports that studies have shown children’s experiences have components similar to those of adults. It describes a collection of reports from children five and under, and from children six and older, with similar core content. The Psi Encyclopedia notes that research has been dominated by adults, with claims made that adults’ and children’s experiences are fundamentally the same. The 2026 review says children need to be “lifted out of the footnotes” of the field.

What should a parent do?

Listen without pressure, and talk to the child’s doctor. A pediatrician or child psychologist can help with any worries. For what researchers have found in adults, see What People Commonly Report During a Near-Death Experience and What Happens to Consciousness During Cardiac Arrest?.