Dealing with Child Nightmares

Occurrences of a Nightmare
Most of the time, these are experienced when either you are too tired and hate to be disturbed or the baby is frightened by a sudden jolt, but most of the time nightmares are experienced when either the child has had a disturbing day or has picked up something throughout the day, which has frightened him. After the nightmare is over, your child will usually wake up and tell you what occurred. She may be crying or fearful but will know you are there and may have trouble falling back to sleep.

Nightmares are common among all age groups, but especially so among preschoolers. Throughout the preschool years, children must resolve aggressive and sexual impulses, which may be reflected in dreams. The content of young children's' nightmares is usually relatively simple, tending to involve frightening creatures who make the child feel helpless.

In many cases, these monsters are based on things a child actually encountered during waking hours, such as a cartoon, an animal or an unpleasant encounter with a playmate. Young children often have difficulty describing the dream and may in fact be confused, not really understanding what a dream is or that the monster they just saw is not really there.

Calming a Child
The secret to calming a child who wakes from a bad dream or who is frightened of the dark is to remind her that she's safe, reassure her that you are there to protect her and provide her with methods for overcoming her fears. Tell her to close her eyes and focus on pleasant thoughts. If a child remains bothered by a nightmare the next morning, have her draw what she saw in her dream; then you can confront it, or suggest that she tear up the paper or throw it away.

Older children may want to describe their dream to you. Try to talk with them about it. There are other means of getting a child to be comforted too. Generally a glass of warm milk at a later stage and a glass of water instantly can make him get out of the disturbed scenario that he/ she has gone through. Hugging a child can make him feel better too.

Some of the people I have met up with also mention the fact that iron ornaments or some elements made up of iron to be placed under the child's mattress, or so the ladies in the olden age believed helped calm a disturbed child. A pair of scissors without the child's knowledge could also help in this situation.

Generally, older children tend to get into their recluse while trying to cope up with the situation. Its best to keep kids occupied as more often than not children either fall into bad company or view illicit pictures or television to allow them to face disturbing situations. Nightmares are later the resultant effects of whatever thy have experienced throughout the day!

Reciting the rosary or any prayer book before they decline to rest in the night could be an excellent means to cure nightmares. The reciting of "OM, the favorite mantra for people who swear by the yogic form of life, helps one in calming the entire nervous system. Prolonged utterance of this mantra can provide you with peaceful sleep, eliminating nightmares completely! Worth trying!