“Children are mirrors, they reflect back to us all we say and do” – Pam Leo
Nightmares - what are they?
#1 Sadly we all experience them, they usually involve dreaming of something that is unpleasant and can make you feel sad or scared when you wake and you may find it difficult to go back to sleep.
#2 Nightmares tend to happen during REM sleep, which is the lighter sleep stage that takes place in the early hours of the morning. In this period you are more likely to notice yourself or your child waking up from a nightmare.
#3 Common between the ages of 3 - 6 years old.
#4 Nightmares can be triggered by something you have seen / watched, big life changes or stress / anxiety.
#5 Your child will normally allow you to comfort them.
Night Terrors - what are they?
#1 Unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during the Non-REM sleep stage which is during the start of the night and can last for a few minutes.
#2 Your child may scream, shout and thrash themselves around, but they are still asleep.
#3 You may notice your child is sweating with a rapid heart rate.
#4 Your child will not remember what happened in the morning.
#5 They may happen more than once in a night.
#6 Common between the ages of 3 - 8 year olds.
#7 Your child may not accept any comfort.
What triggers a Night Terror or Nightmare?
#1 Tiredness or illness.
#2 Something that has caused you to feel stressed, scared or anxious.
#3 Sudden noises.
#4 Needing to go to the toilet.
#5 Sleep deprivation.
#6 Separation anxiety.
What can I do to help my child?
#1 Try and incorporate time to wind down before bedtime along with implementing a relaxing bed time routine.
#2 Ensure the bedroom is an ideal temperature between 16 - 20 degrees.
#3 Take note of the episodes so you can monitor if things are getting better or worse. This can be helpful if you feel things are not improving and you can provide a sleep diary of episodes to your GP.
#4 If your child is experiencing a nightmare, try and reassure them and settle them back to sleep.
#5 Do not wake your child when they are having a night terror, try and stay calm and ensure they are safe if they are thrashing around.
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