Sleeping Disorders (Home) > Sleeping Disorder > Nightmares and Terrors
Nightmares and Night Terrors
Nightmares
Like adults, children have dreams when they are in REM sleep. This occurs 4-5 times each night, and while most dreams aren't remembered, some are frightening enough to wake the child and make them summon their parents. Nightmares usually begin when a child is about three years old, they are most common between the ages of three and eight (when their fantasy life is more active) and they are most likely to occur later in the night. Unlike night terrors, your child will be wide-awake and responsive after the nightmare and she may be able to recall the details of the nightmare the next morning.
While an occasional nightmare is normal, an increase in the number of nightmares can be a response to stress or your child being anxious about something. Other triggers can be a change in her normal routine, like moving, starting a new school, or a death in the family. Or the nightmares may be a response to a violent or scary movie, television show or story.
When your child has an occasional nightmare, you should reassure her that it was just a dream and isn't real. Give her lots of hugs and be supportive. You may need to search her room with her to reassure her that their aren't any monsters or whatever the nightmare was about. It is probably best to wait until the next morning to really talk about the details of the dream, at which time she should be calmer. And try to figure out if there was a specific event or stressor that may have triggered the nightmares. Did she see a television show or movie or read a story in which this may have occurred? Have you recently moved or had another big change in your home situation? Is she on any new medications that may be affecting her sleep?
Tips to decrease Nightmares include
- Decreasing stress in her life.
- Avoid television at least an hour before bedtime.
- Avoid telling her scary bedtime stories.
- Let her sleep with a night light.
- Talk about the nightmare the next day. Suggest that she draw a picture of the dream to help her talk about it.
While an occasional nightmare is normal, you should seek professional help if the nightmares are also associated with changes in her daytime personality or behavior. If she is under a lot of stress or seems very anxious and the nightmares are increasing, then she may need professional counseling. Otherwise, with a lot of reassurance, she should outgrow them.
Night Terrors
Night terrors are more frightening for parents, but can also be normal. They usually occur a few hours after your child has gone to sleep, at which time you may wake up to your child's crying or screaming. When you go to him, he will NOT be alert and won't recognize you, even though he may seem like he is awake. He will usually seem like he is terrified and may have a rapid heart beat and rapid breathing. Night terrors occur as your child moves through different stages of sleep and they represent a partial awakening. Since your child isn't really awake, there is nothing that you can do to reassure him. You should see that he is safe and do not try to wake him up. He will usually settle himself down after a few minutes.
Bookmark This Page: Add to Favorites | Add to Del.icio.us | Send to a Friend
VISITOR COMMENTS on "Nightmares and Night Terrors":
 |
More Articles |
 |
| 1. Help for Sleep Disorders Help for Sleep Disorders If your sleep is continually disrupted and you lack initiative and energy during the day, you should seek professional help. In most cases of sleep disorder, [...] |
||
| 2. What Happens During Sleep What Happens During Sleep You don't notice it, of course, but while you're asleep, your brain is still active. As people sleep, their brains pass through five [...] |
||
| 3. Seeking Medical Treatment Seeking Medical Treatment If you are experiencing sleepiness during the day, loud snoring or pauses in breathing during sleep or [...] |
||
| 4. Child Settling Problems or Resists to Sleep Child Settling Problems or Resists to Sleep There are different reasons child may not want to go to bed at night. Find out why child is [...] |
||
|
Recent Searches increased |
Recent
Sleep Disturbances
School Age Problems
Restore Breathing During Sleep
Restless Legs Syndrome
Pre-School Children
Nightmares
Nightmares and Terrors
Narcolepsy
International Health Problem
Insomnia
Random
Restless Legs Syndrome
Nightmares and Terrors
Move Against Insomnia
Insomnia
Seeking Medical Treatment
Restore Breathing During Sleep
Sleep Disturbances
International Health Problem
Pre-School Children
Causes of Sleep Problems
Sleep and Aging Problems
Narcolepsy
Nightmares
School Age Problems
ALL
