Your Child’s Nightmares And Night Terrors

Nightmares And Night Terrors

Hi moms!  My article today will be on nightmares and night terrors.

A friend of moms called last week and told of her child having had a
bad night. Her preschooler started screaming after going to sleep.

Mom said later, that she doesn’t think it was a nightmare cause the
child didn’t know why he was screaming. She thinks it was a night
terror.

I did some reading on this and found it is common. I hope I don’t
have one! It’s the way some children process information and
emotions.

Must Cause Nightmares For Moms

I bet there’s nothing more nightmarish for a mom. To hear an
unexpected scream coming from their little one’s bedroom.

Once a mom gets there, the child often doesn’t notice her. Just
keeps crying, if having a night terror.

Both night terrors and nightmares can start around two years of
age. They can last until they’re about six years old. Then they will
usually stop.

Toddler Nightmares

Toddler nightmares are usually disturbing because they tend to
wake the little ones in the middle of the night. Nightmares are
unpleasant and realistic dreams.

When toddlers experience nightmares they tend to remember
them and they will be interested in sharing their experience with
their parents.

After a nightmare, your child may find it difficult to fall asleep
again.

A child can experience a nightmare at any time in the course of
the night. They usually occur later in the sleep cycle, though.

One, two, or three hours before waking up for the new day.

Toddler Night Terrors

Unlike nightmares, a toddler usually doesn’t remember the terror
she had during the night. Night terrors are not linked with visible
dreams like in a nightmare.

They usually occur between ninety minutes and three hours
after baby falls asleep.

Moms should not try to wake their little one during a night
terror episode. They may  become disoriented and confused.

Just make sure baby can’t hurt themselves if thrashing
about. It should end soon, then baby should fall back asleep.

Causes Of Nightmares And Night Terrors

Kids usually find it difficult to distinguish truth from fantasy. A
variety of situations during their waking time may lead to anxiety
and stress.

This can be the main causes of night terrors and nightmares.

Their brains process a lot of info. Their memory keeps the images
and sounds they experienced from their hectic day. It then comes
back to them during their sleep.

Some other causes of nightmares and night terrors are lack of
enough sleep, fever, and abnormal sleep schedule.

Also, some may have a breathing abnormality during the
night.

What Can Mom Do?

Don’t allow your child to watch anything scary on TV.

When toddlers keep on experiencing night terrors, they could be
family inherited. If they happen almost every night around the
same time, you can wake them before it happens.

Then let them go back to sleep in ten or fifteen minutes. Make
sure they are getting enough sleep and aren’t overtired.

Remember what solid food they ate that day. Did they have
something different?

Try cutting out any white sugar or anything with additives and
preservatives. Did that help?

In an article on healthychildren.org, called 
Nightmares And Night Terrors In Preschoolers they say “If your
child has night terrors, be sure to tell babysitters what they are
and what to do.

If night terrors persist, talk with your child’s doctor.”

Both the nightmares and night terrors are common among
toddlers. Each of them is different from the other in terms of
the causes and the way they happen.

If yours has been having them, I hope you find out why and can
stop them from happening.

Oh, hi mom! I didn’t see you. You scared me.

Wow, I hope I don’t have a nightmare tonight! Have a great day!

 courtesy of IntermountainMoms at youtube.com

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