Any child can have a nightmare, but the Baby Center parenting website explains that 5- to 8-year-olds are especially vulnerable. They are old enough to realize that life has dangers such as car crashes and violent people, and they are starting to understand death. These things can manifest themselves in bad dreams. Daytime stimuli such as scary movies or stress may also cause nightmares. Fortunately, kids can overcome their fear of nightmares.
Step 1
Prepare your child before bedtime to cope with possible nightmares. Kids are comforted by rituals, so create a routine to help keep bad dreams away. It may include turning on a nightlight, putting a favorite stuffed toy into bed with the child or repeating a poem to keep bad thoughts away and attract happy dreams. Let the youngster help craft the ritual.
Step 2
Respond quickly when your child has a nightmare. The youngster may run into your room for comfort. If not, go to the child's room if you hear screaming, crying or anything else that indicates a bad dream. Baby Center recommends offering physical reassurance such as back and neck rubbing or hugging to calm the child down.
Step 3
Show the child that everything is OK once calm is restored. Baby Center explains this may include looking under the bed and in closets to show nothing bad is hiding there and reminding the youngster that your room is nearby.
Step 4
Let the child talk to you about the nightmare. Don't judge it or ridicule it. For example, don't laugh and say, "That's so silly! Why would a big monster car want to chase you?" Kids take bad dreams very seriously and can be hurt or embarrassed if you belittle them. Instead, remind the youngster about reality gently. For example, you might say, "That sounds very scary. I'm glad there are no monster cars for real, aren't you?"
Step 5
Teach your child to get closure on the nightmare. Baby Center recommends making a special water-based spray to spritz around the room and banish the bad dream. Kids Health, a Nemours hospital website, advises letting the child come up with a happy ending. Some youngsters benefit from drawing a picture of the scary dream, then crumpling it up and throwing it away.
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