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Nightmares, Night Terrors and Nighttime Fears
December 22nd, 2009
What to do when things go bump in the night
by: Elizabeth Pantley
In This Article
Dealing with Nightmares
    

  • Children spend more time dreaming than adults do, so they have more dreams–both good and bad.
    • 

  • If your child wakes with a nightmare, stay with her until she feels relaxed and ready to go to sleep.
    • 

  • During a night terror, your child’s eyes will be open, but she won’t actually be seeing.
    • 

  • The best response to a night terror is a gentle pat, along with comforting words or Shhh Shhh sounds.
    • 

  • Find ways to help your child confront and overcome her fears of the dark, such as giving her a flashlight or a special stuffed toy to sleep with.
    • 

If your child’s sleep is disrupted by nightmares and fear, it can affect her mood, behavior, health, memory and growth. Here’s what you can do to solve these common childhood sleep disrupters:


Nightmares


Children spend more time dreaming than adults do, so they have more dreams–both good and bad. After a nightmare, saying “It was just a dream” doesn’t explain what they experienced–after all, most kids believe that the tooth fairy and Big Bird are real, too. After a nightmare, offer comfort just as you would for a tangible fear. If your child wakes with a nightmare:


    

  • Stay with her until she feels      relaxed and ready to go to sleep, or if she’s reluctant to have you leave,      stay with her until she is actually sleeping. 
    • 

  • Be calm and convey that what’s      happening is normal and that all is well. 
    • 

  • Reassure your child that she’s safe      and that it’s okay to go back to sleep.          
    • 



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nightmares, night terrors, children sleep problems, child wakes in night, afraid of the dark, child afraid sleep elizabeth pantley, children healthy sleep