5 Tips To Avoid Nightmares In Children
Nightmares are quite common during childhood. They usually appear around the age of 2 or 3 and are a way for children to express and process experiences from their lives. But just because they are normal does not mean that they are not difficult for our children. In this article, we take a closer look at how you can avoid nightmares in children.
When children have nightmares, they may develop a fear of something specific that they have dreamed about. In fact, they may be afraid to sleep at all because they do not want another nightmare. If you currently have these problems at home, these tips can help your child sleep peacefully.
Possible causes of nightmares in children
Nightmares usually appear during the second half of the night, during the REM sleep phase. The reasons can be:
- Lack of a regular routine
- When children are sick or have a fever, nightmares can become more common.
- That they do not get enough hours of sleep.
- If children feel anxious or stressed about any change in their lives – a move, a new sibling, etc. – they can have nightmares.
- Being too tired also makes nightmares more frequent.
5 tips to avoid nightmares in children
Make sure your child is safe in their room
To make the children safer, you can turn on a night light so that their room is not so dark. Of course, you should not let this go too far. At the same time, you can let young children sleep with their favorites among their stuffed animals, which makes them feel safe and secure.
Keep track of what they watch on TV and do not let them watch TV before bedtime
During the last hour before the children go to bed, try to make sure that they are not watching TV. But no matter what they watch – at any time of the day or night – this should be free from violent or aggressive content. If children watch cartoons before going to bed, make sure the program is not too bright or colorful. It can wake up the brain just before bedtime.
Use routines to avoid nightmares in children
It is important to establish routines in everyday life because they offer security and balance. Routines let the children know what to expect at any given moment during the day and this prevents unpleasant surprises. Therefore, children should have a fixed schedule to, for example, bathe, eat, brush their teeth and go to bed every night.
Read a story before going to sleep
It is very important to try to read an age-appropriate bedtime story before going to bed. It helps children to calm down before going to sleep. You can also practice different relaxation techniques with deep breathing, quiet music and natural sounds.
What can I do if my nightmares do not go away despite my efforts?
- If your child has a nightmare, go to him or her and offer comfort and hugs.
- Use a calm and confident voice to talk to your child so that he or she is not even more afraid.
- Tell your child that the dream is over, that it was just a nightmare and that mom or dad is there. Tell a nice story to your child to distract and help him or her forget about the nightmare.
- When children have nightmares , do not bring them into your bed. If you do, they will probably get used to it and it will be difficult to correct later. Instead, lay them down in their own bed and stay with them until they fall asleep again.
- If your child experiences recurring nightmares, you should talk to a pediatrician. The problem may be the result of a sleep disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. It can also be an indication of a psychological problem that may have to do with the child’s environment.
How to avoid nightmares in children
Nightmares are a normal part of children’s development, especially between the ages of 2 and 3. It is not uncommon for them to persist up to 6 years of age. But as children get older, they tend to slow down.
Do not hesitate to apply the above suggestions to avoid nightmares in children. And remember that if the problem does not go away and your child is having a really hard time, it is best that you consult a pediatrician.
