Children and Nightmares

All kiddies do have nightmares and they do start at around 2 but are more common in children between 3 and 6. The problem is that very young children have difficulty believing that the dream is not real. The advise is don't wake them up and don't just say that their nightmare is not real but explain what dreams and nightmares are and that everyone has them. Nightmares in young children are usually caused by small stressful events ( what seems stressful to them you perhaps won't notice) even something that they've seen on a children's TV show! A good thing to do with the child is get them to 'rescript' their nightmare - cto give it another ending - say making the rabbit a friendly magic rabbit or something like that. Any medications or of course illness and fever can cause them - or it could be just an overactive imagination!! It is awful for you as a mum to see your little girl distressed, I hope that she's soon better.

Parents always like to cover up their children to keep them warm. The problem is that being too warm causes nightmares. Sleeping cool prevents nightmares. If you do wake up over a nightmare, always turn over on the other side. If you go back to sleep on the same side, the nightmare will return.

She sounds like she's maybe overactive during her sleep time. Could she possibly be overtired? I can see Sugar also possibly creating some problems too. Any type of sugar I would cut out before bedtime, and give it to her much earlier. Try something much healthier. I know when my kids were little I use to get them to settle down before bedtime. I wouldn't let them run around up until they had to go to bed. If they were going to bed at 9:00, I would then have them relax and calm down by 8:15/8:30. They would read books, color, watch tv, but NO running around. It helped quite a bit and bedtime was easier and they slept well. Maybe this will help a little for you too. Make sure you keep your doors all locked so she can't get out. If she starts sleep walking you might not hear her one night, and she'll get out the door. Scary thought!

I believe it is a stage that all children go through. I know that both of my children went through a stage where they had night terrors and they were also about the same age as your daughter is. I attributed a lot of it to the fact that their minds were working very, very fast during this time, but they weren't able to express themselves in the way that adults would because they are still somewhat limited in their verbal communication at that age.

Hi elfbwillow, do you know lack of calcium in the children they will talk in the sleep and walk in the sleep. This is what doctors are telling now. They feel hungry often so they will cry, most of the mothers can't understand this. So we have to give milk or something in the mid night also. You try this and see the result.