Tips To Prevent Nightmares In Children

Nightmares are fairly normal during a child’s development. They usually appear around the age of 2 or 3 and are a way for children to express experiences from their lives. But just because they’re normal doesn’t mean they aren’t disruptive to little ones. In this article we will see how we can help prevent nightmares in children.

When children have nightmares, they may develop a fear of something specific that they have dreamed about. They may even be too scared to sleep alone because they don’t want to have another nightmare. If you’re dealing with these issues at home, the tips below will help you let your baby rest peacefully.

Possible causes of nightmares in children

Nightmares usually appear during the second half of the night, during the REM sleep phase. Possible causes are:

• The lack of a fixed routine
• If children are sick or have a fever, nightmares may become more frequent.
• Not getting enough hours of sleep.
• When children feel anxious or stressed about a change in their lives – moving house, having a new sibling, etc. – they can have nightmares.
• Being overtired also increases the risk of nightmares.

Tips to prevent nightmares in children

1. Make sure your child feels comfortable in his or her room

To make children more comfortable, you can turn on a night light so that his room is not so dark. Don’t overdo it, of course. At the same time, you can let little ones sleep with their favorite stuffed animal, making them feel safe and secure.

2. Be careful what they watch on TV and don’t let them watch TV before going to bed

In the last hour before going to bed, try to avoid watching TV. Whatever TV or video they watch — day or night — shouldn’t contain violent or aggressive content. If kids watch cartoons before going to bed, make sure they aren’t too bright or too colorful. These can stimulate the brain just before going to sleep.

3. Establish routines

It is important to establish daily routines as they provide security and balance. Thanks to routines, they know what to expect at any time of the day and surprises are avoided. In this sense, children should have a regular schedule to bathe, eat, brush their teeth and go to bed every day.

4. Read a bedtime story

It is very important to introduce the habit of reading an age-appropriate bedtime story. This helps children unwind before going to sleep. You can also practice relaxation techniques with deep breathing, soft music, and nature sounds.

What can we do if nightmares persist despite our best efforts?

• If your child has a nightmare, go to his or her room and comfort him.
• Use a calm and caring voice to talk to your child so he or she doesn’t get more scared.

• Tell your child that it’s all over, that it was just a nightmare, and that Mom or Dad is here.

• Tell him a fun story to distract him and help him forget the nightmare.
• If children have nightmares, it is better not to bring them to your own bed. If you do, they will probably get used to this and it will be difficult to correct the situation. Rather, calm them down in their own bed until they fall asleep again.
• If your child has repeated nightmares, talk to a pediatrician about it. The problem may be the result of a sleep disorder or post-traumatic stress. It can also indicate a psychological problem related to the child’s environment.

Avoiding nightmares in children

Nightmares are a normal part of a child’s development, especially around ages 2 and 3. In addition, they can persist for up to 6 years. But as kids get older, they fade.

Do not hesitate to apply the above tips to prevent nightmares in children. And remember, if the problem doesn’t go away and your child is having a really hard time, you should see a pediatrician.