Nightmares In Toddlers

Scary dreams or nightmares in toddlers are common toddler sleep issues and often begin between the ages of 18 months and 3 years.

You will know when your child has a nightmare as they will wake up and be scared - the key thing is that your toddler has woken up from the nightmare and is consciously awake - unlike night terrors.

Nightmares in toddlers can sometimes be sparked off by a scary TV programme or frightening story. Or they could just be caused by a scary feeling which isn't associated with anything in particular.

Your toddler is still learning about the world and part of that is learning about what is real and what is "just pretend". Imagine believing that the scary pictures and stories of spiders, monsters, witches, trolls or goblins could be true. It would make life frightening and could contribute to your toddler being afraid at night when it is dark and his room may be full of shadows.

If your toddler is not sleeping well because he has a lot of toddler nightmares then it might be a sign that he is worried or upset about something. Is there anything that you are aware of which is triggering any anxiety? There may not be anything rational that you can think of but there may be something that seems small to an adult and big to a little toddler.

During the toddler years lots of changes often takes place. Perhaps your toddler goes to a new playgroup, starts nursery, has a babysitter or has a new sibling. He is beginning to separate more and more from Mummy and Daddy and this can feel very unsafe for him. If your toddler can tell you about his worries then you will be able to give him the comfort and reassurance he needs.

Whatever the cause, whether it is unknown, a scary story or something more permanent in their lives, if your toddler has a nightmare he will need your comfort and reassurance when he wakes from it.

Go to him as soon as you hear him and have a night light on. Cuddle and console him, comfort him and listen if he wants to tell you about the nightmare. Do not rubbish the story of his nightmare as to him it is very real - listen and empathise with him.

Show your toddler that he is safe and take his fears seriously. He may need you to check that there are no scary monsters any where in the room. You might need to check under the bed, in the wardrobe, behind the curtains or behind any furniture.

You need to reassure him that he's okay, he's safe. If your toddler needs you to, stay with him until he goes back to sleep so that he can begin to sleep being relaxed and feeling safe. Give him all the reassurance he wants.

There is no one way to prevent childhood nightmares as every child reacts differently. However, here are ideas for you to try:

• To stop nightmares in toddlers you may need to avoid your toddler being afraid at night, make sure that his stories and any TV programmes are toddler-friendly and do not contain scary characters - most fairy tales are scary! You may need to wait to tell your toddler fairy stories until he is able to distinguish between what is real and what is not real.


• Before you start your bedtime routine and perhaps during supper, speak to your toddler about their day. What was the best bit of their day? What was the least favourite part of their day? By inviting answers like this you may hear if anything has upset your toddler and so you will hopefully be able to talk about it and resolve any problems or worries before bedtime.


• Have a familiar bedtime routine.


• If there are any changes due to take place in his life then introduce them gradually.


• Make a "scary box" with your toddler. If your toddler then is afraid at night or scared of anything then together you and your toddler can put the item or idea (which you can draw) into the box. You can then put the lid on and put it away somewhere. By doing this your toddler will have a sense of control over the things that scare him.


• Use "monster spray". Buy a water spray (easily available from garden stores or chemists) and fill it with water. If your toddler needs reassurance that his bedroom is safe you can give a quick spray to ward off any baddies.

Nightmares in toddlers: Fear of the dark
As toddlers develop so too does their imagination and their thoughts can be frightening. In the dark, shadows can resemble monsters or scary creatures. If your toddler is scared of the dark, then be sure to have a nightlight in their room, or leave the door open.

Do not force your child to sleep in the dark if they are scared - it is likely to scare them even more. Instead give him reassurance and comfort.

Nightmares in toddlers are upsetting. No one wants to see their little child scared, upset and vulnerable. If your toddler has a nightmare be patient and stay with him for as long as he needs you, even though you are likely to be very tired.

Nightmares in toddlers are stressful. Try the ideas that we have listed and hopefully your toddler will soon stop having nightmares and will soon have a peaceful sleep time. If you are worried always remember to see your medical professional for their expert advice.