Bad dreams can cause your child to suffer undue stress but can you do anything to stop it…?

There’s no single cause of a bad dream or nightmare and hence no single way of stopping them for occurring. It’s possible physical factors can be involved, such as illness and/or medication in causing a nightmare whilst it’s also a possibility that a nightmare is a reflection of some unusual stress or trauma experienced whilst awake. Sometimes it is just a result of a niggling worry or issue that has been ignored for too long.

When I was younger my mum always said that eating cheese before going to bed would cause nightmares…is this true? There is no scientific evidence to support it but it’s thought that certain foods can set off bad dreams so maybe this is something to look out for.

Meanings of dreams and nightmares

Nightmare prevention

1. Prepare for bedtime- It is important that you help your childs body and mind prepare for bedtime. You want them to relax and get in the mood for sleeping soundly. You can do this by reading to them or giving them a bath. Anything that is soothing to can help you prepare them for sleep.

2. Keep your child from seeing the TV if you’re watching news, scary movies and other graphic violence before bed.

3. Try to clear your childs mind from problems and worries if you can identify that they have any.

4. Don’t let you kids eat anything heavy, fattening or greasy right before bed.

5. Have a light snack or a glass of milk before bed. This may help your child relax.

6. Avoid giving your little one anything containing caffeine before bed, preferably for a few hours before you plan to get them to sleep.

What to do after your child has a nightmare?

According to these dream experts, we can help our children–and ourselves- overcome the nightmares by using a few simple tools.
For children, Alan Siegel, Ph.D., assistant clinical professor, University of California at Berkeley offers four “Rs” of nightmare relief:

• Reassurance. Talk to or physically hold your child to help break the nightmare’s spell.
• Re-scripting. Change the nightmares storyline to a safe ending.
• Rehearsal. If the child can’t verbally communicate either because he’s too young or too upset, draw or paint new endings to the nightmare.
• Resolution. Once the child figures out how the dream connects to his life, the dream will resolve itself.

What else should you do?
• Go to them when you hear them having a nightmare.
• Speak in a soft, calming voice.
• Explain to your child that they were having a bad dream and encourage them to talk about it.
• Snuggle with them for a few minutes until they feel safe and secure.
• Offer to leave the bedroom door open and provide a soft light.
There are also some things that you shouldn’t do:
• Do not allow your child to get in the habit of sleeping the remainder of the night in your bed. This can send the message that their room is not safe.
• Do not minimize your child’s feelings. Nightmares can feel very real to a child, so take the time to assure them that they are safe.
• Never express anger at your child for being disruptive or “babyish”.

When to seek further advice…

If your child’s nightmares become frequent enough to disturb their sleep patterns and it begins to interfere with their daily lives then you should visit your child’s doctor for advice. Children usually outgrow nightmares on their own but it won’t do any harm seeking the advice of a medical expert.

Author: SuperDads

We’re here to make a difference. Superdads not only offers advice but we are her e to promote the importance of fatherhood. Many people are oblivious to the fact that Dads really do matter and this is something we’d like to put right.

Homepage