Sleep Spoilers in Children | Nightmares or Night Terrors
Nightmares in children or as early as an infant are very common. Children’s sleep is often disturbed by nightmares which can come in different forms like night terrors or sleepwalking. These activities by toddlers or kids can be very frightening for kids and worrying for parents. Having nightmares and bad dreams can make children feel worried when it is time to go to sleep the next night.
Nightmares are bad dreams that can upset and frighten children. They can be about imaginary things such as monsters or something real in your child’s life. Young children can wake up thinking something bad has happened. As they get older they understand that dreams are not real. Children may also have bad dreams that do not wake them, but which they remember in the morning. Having nightmares and bad dreams can make children feel worried when it is time to go to sleep the next night. Nightmares can be linked with worries and fears. They happen more often after a traumatic event or when a child is stressed, unwell, taking medication or not getting enough sleep.
Nightmares happen during ‘dreaming’ sleep (also called REM sleep – REM stands for Rapid Eye Movement). Most dreaming sleep happens towards the end of the night, so usually, children wake with nightmares in the second half of the night. When a child wakes from a nightmare, he will want to be comforted, he will be aware that you are there, and will be able to tell you something about what has frightened him if he is old enough to be able to put it into words. Children often take some time to go back to sleep after a nightmare because they are worried that the bad dream will come back.
Nightmares may be linked with things that have happened during the day, especially things which are worrying, such as starting school, getting lost, being bullied, being barked at by a dog, having something happens to the family (such as illness or family fights) or something bad happening in the world (something seen on TV for example). Dreams and nightmares seem to be ways for people to deal with their worries and work out ways of managing. Nightmares happen more often when children are unwell, especially if they have a fever. Some medicines can cause nightmares, while nightmares can sometimes start when other medicines are stopped. Nightmares also tend to happen more often if children are not getting enough sleep.
Reduce daytime stress e.g. if toilet training try putting it off for a while and avoid TV, computers and video games before bed, especially any that could cause them to feel stressed or excited. Have a relaxing bedtime routine e.g. a bath, a quiet story, a song and a goodnight kiss and try getting your child to relax and think of a happy, safe place while they go to sleep. Try using your child’s imagination. Ask them to draw what is scaring them and then screw it up and throw it away. This can give a sense of power over fears. If your child often has the same nightmare with a scary ending, try talking during the day about a better ending.
If nightmares are very disturbing, or if they keep happening for a month or two, and if the causes are difficult to work out, then it may help to get some professional advice. Nightmares can be a sign that a child is very anxious or depressed.
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