nightmares

Past Answers...

The simple answer is to tell her it is safe and actually mean it! It is so distressing when a child wakes and I think parent would agree with you that you want to be able to make her forget the bad dream but in reality that is not always possible. You could use one of the visualisations tracks on the Relax Kids CDs that would help distract her from the dream and soothe her back to sleep. It is actually more likely than not that by the morning the child will have no recollection of the dream and so the sooner she is reassured and asleep the better. It is most upsetting for the adult who witnesses the distress but they are part of normal psychological development in children. Nightmares sometimes follow a distress tantrum during the day but repeated nightmares and waking may have an underlying trigger such as reaction to foods or drink, changes in routine etc If this is the case it is worth keeping a diary. In the meantime when she wakes settle her straight away, acknowledge the dream is upsetting, try not to get her to relate the dream back to you, (this gives not only a reminder but gives the dream substance in the waking world),and as quickly as possible leave her. Dont stay with her for hours waiting for her to fall asleep or she will feel she needs you present to feel safe to sleep. Even if you sit outside her door for a short time till she settles (and you made need to repeat this several times)you will be assured she is ok and she will be re-assured that she is safe on her own despite the dreams.

Suggestion by Cindy from NurturingEmotionalWellbeing

You don't mention your daughters age but I don't think that it matters too much with my response.. It may not be something that you would think would work for you and your family, but my very simple suggestion would be to open your arms and let her come into your bed after a nightmare or a scare in the night. A shared bed and cuddles at nighttime can be such a reassurance to my own children. Knowing that they are always welcome in my bed for a cuddle gives them reassurance and the feeling of safety and love that they may be looking for in the darkness of the night. One of my girls, who was very confident during the day was the one who needed the most 'care' during the night. Bad dreams are quickly forgotten with a cuddle and few words. This may not be a suitable for you and Cindy also makes some great suggestions. I hope you all get some peaceful sleep soon

Comment by sarah

HI - We have found that so many children with night time terrors have been soothed with the Relax Kids CDs. Children listen to them regularly and go to sleep listening to something uplifting and positive. Hearing positive words and creating positive and beautiful images in their mind as they sleep can help to create positive and happy dreams. I would personally recommend the princesses CD as it helps children go to the land of beautiful and relaxing dreams.

Suggestion by Marneta from Relax Kids Ltd

Here are some suggestions from our fans on facebook Donna Morgan put a picture frame round the dream, make it black and white, turn the sounds off, shrink the picture real small and make it fuzzy then shoot it off to hyper space with a rocket, fairy dust f etc etc further and further until its past the moon, bye bye scarey dream, good luck, xx 16 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Tania Todd My son get's bad dreams if he's to hot at night .could this be a cause? 16 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Miriam Barbour Doyle I had two young boys come to me for Reiki to help with their Night Terrors - Both parents of the children were beside themselves as they had tried everything and didn't know what else to do.. after just a couple of sessions (only 20mins for young childrens - max) their night terrors stopped... so find a good reputable Reiki practioner and make sure they don't work on the child more than 15 - 20 mins..they also used the Relax Kids quiet spaces which they said calmed them and gave them a restful night sleep...Good luck - I hope this helps... 16 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Jacqueline de Bruyn yes you can also use lavender drops or mandarin on their pillow and spray resque spray in the mouth for inner peace....i have reiki myself....Make the bedtime restfull en take a shower voor bed time so they can go warm en quiet to bed... 16 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Jacqueline de Bruyn o i forgot you can also massage their feet......on tis way you live the energie of that day behind.....after shower....these problems are age related and they past away when they get older but when you are in this period ist difficult for the parents.....i wish them te best! and an good night sleep... 16 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Helen Crowdey Used to happen to my daughter when she was that age...told her that monsters were afraid of the colour pink and we painted her bedroom pink and got pink duvet covers so her bed became the 'safe place' - worked for us!!! Good luck xx 16 hours ago · Like · 1 Erica Ryan You can write or draw about the dream - so that it's there on paper, and then post it off - they used to have a creature at Eureka! children's museum in Halifax that would eat bad dreams for you, I don't know if it's still there 15 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Ann Gill Ensure the child understands it's not real... it's just his clever brain pretending while he's asleep. You could give him one of mummy's or Daddy's tee shirts to cuddle in bed... telling him it's got mummy's (or Daddy's) love in it and will last him the whole night long! This sort of statement needs to be said in a very confident way, like you really know what you're talking about, rather than a 'are you going to fall for that one?' voice... because children can tell the difference!!! 15 hours ago · Unlike · 1 'back to the Essence...' of Health, Growth & Learning Has anything changed in his environment . painted, moved rooms, people? 15 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Marie Robinson What does the child watch on tv during the day? Maybe this should be monitored? My 3 year stops watching TV an hour before bed then we have a simple story then relaxing music and a start light plugged in....try and find out what the dreams are about to see if you can get to the actual root of the problem! is the child at nursery/childcare? Talk to them to see what's gone on in the day no point trying to solve an issue if you don't know the root cause! Good luck (sometimes its just something they go through) 15 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Louise Dzokoto Don't be scared to let the child sleep in your bed, it's the best remedy for a bad dream and if doesn't become a habit all should get a good nights sleep!!x 13 hours ago · Unlike · 2 Relax Kids Thank you - thank you everyone for all your help and support. You are all fantastic! x 12 hours ago · Like Cassandra Martine Bebek Also, try wild child animal essences, an oz bush flowers 5 hours ago · Unlike · 1 Cait Simms Also make an Native american dream catcher xx 53 minutes ago · Unlike · 1

Suggestion by Marneta from Relax Kids Ltd