7 surefire tricks to calm a child who has nightmares & bull; hello healthy

Nightmares can happen to anyone. In children, nightmares usually start to appear at the age of 3 years. When children have nightmares, it is usually difficult for them to sleep again. Either because they don't want the dream to happen again or because they are too scared and tense to fall asleep. If this happens, you and your partner need to apply special methods so that the baby can calm down again. Please cheat the following smart tricks.

Why do children have nightmares?

There are various reasons why children have nightmares. For example, that day the child has just heard a scary story, has experienced a scary incident such as being lost in a shopping center, is sick, or if the child is worried about something.

The nightmares experienced by children are also usually very much influenced by the stage of their development at that time. For example, children under the age of five (toddlers) often dream of being separated from their parents. Meanwhile, school-age children often dream about death, dangerous situations, or scenes from horror films that they have seen.

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Nightmares arise when the child is in the deepest stage of sleep, that is rapid eye movement or REM. A dream that is truly creepy will cause him to wake up suddenly. If your child is very young, it will be difficult for him to tell the difference between dreams and reality. This is what makes children hysterical or excessively anxious. However, even in a 10 year old child who is able to distinguish between dreams and reality, the fear that appears is no joke.

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Soothe the child who has nightmares

If children wake up with nightmares and are scared, don't take them for granted. You need to accompany and help the child calm down. Check out the various tricks below.

1. Accompany the child

No matter how old your baby is, immediately accompany your child if they wake up with nightmares. If you don't sleep in the same room or bed with your child, walk up and sit next to them. You can hug or rub your child gently until they are calm enough. Make sure that the child knows that he is awake and that what is happening in the dream is not real.

Be careful if your child asks to sleep in your room or bed. Once allowed, the child will repeat this habit. It is better if you stay with your child until he falls asleep or is sleepy in his own bed. That way, you give him the opportunity to learn to be brave and show him that nightmares are commonplace.

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2. Understand the fear

However, that doesn't mean you can underestimate the fear that your child feels. Show that you understand her feelings by saying, “Mom / Dad knows you are very scared. Huh , you sweat like that. Now, let's change clothes first. " You also need to convince your child that the dream is not real by saying, “Wow, what a scary dream you have, son. But you know that in reality, Mom and Dad can't let you disappear alone in the forest? "

3. Ask the child to tell the nightmare

Sometimes, expressing a nightmare they are having can help your child feel better. No need to tell at length, just an outline. After that, you and your little one can further discuss the nightmare in the morning. In order for the child to feel more confident, you can invite the child to make up the scary ending on his own. For example, a child will get a magic sword that can defeat monsters chasing children in their dreams.

4. Ward off nightmares

Create a spell or trick to ward off nightmares with your child. For example, if the child has a nightmare and wakes up, teach the child to turn the pillow over so that the nightmare that had arisen can be buried under the pillow. Another way is to ask a child's doll, toy, or pet to watch him while he sleeps. Tell the child, “Look, Mom / Dad has asked the bear to get rid of your nightmare. If you have a nightmare, later the bear will still accompany you. So you don't need to be afraid anymore, huh."

5. Creating a safe and calm atmosphere

Your child may find it difficult to sleep again after a nightmare. For that, make sure the child feels safe and calm in his bed. If your child asks for the light to be turned on, you can turn on a soft light sleeper. You can also slightly open the door to the room and convince the child that you will return to the nursery to check on his condition in a few moments.

6. Diverts child's fears

Sometimes, nightmares can scare her half to death. So, distract children by discussing fun things. For example a funny story when you and your family are on vacation or a fun event that your child has just experienced. If that doesn't work, you can tell short, entertaining stories.

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7. Promises pleasant things in the morning

When your child has nightmares, he may be afraid to go to sleep again even though he is tired and sleepy. So that children want to sleep quickly, you can promise interesting things in the morning. For example watching his favorite movie or preparing the breakfast menu he likes the most. It can also help your child focus on the positive things in the morning, not the nightmares. When the morning comes, don't forget to praise the courage of the child who made it through the nightmare.