3yo nightmares/night terrors??

[tonic0]

Hi All,

Just wondered if there is anyone experiencing what I am.

My son seems to have nightmares several times a night, and at times is difficult to wake from them. It's been going on for nearly a year now and although my 11mo sleeps soundly all night every night - it's the 3 yo which keeps us up.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience with this and what you might suggest. My husband and I are concerned because they always seem to be bad dreams. He seems to be distressed in his sleep.
Any ideas???

[Tisme]

My son has them also and when I asked a CHN about them during one of my daughters check ups she said it's the childs subconscious dealing with all that he has learnt through the day. So if they learn how to read numbers for instance it'll be number monsters chasing them through the house etc.

I haven't try it as yet, but one of the mums suggested that she put a dream catcher over her childs bed for him to put all the bad dreams in. I went out today and bought a dream catcher myself to give this a try cos just like you it's my 3 yr old not my two year who keeps me awake half the night!

[whatwasithinking]

My 3yr old DD has been having bad nightmares and nightterrors for a few months now.

We ask her in the morning what did she dream about and she says skunks (dunno why she is scared of them).

Now before she goes to bed we tell her to have good dreams and this seems to work most of the time - no more waking up during the night - when she wakes in the morning she always tells us so proudly that she had good dreams last night.

It is not fool proof as she still has bad dreams but not as many.

Enough rambling from me - hope you all get some uninterupted sleep soon.

Hugs to all :)

[MammaMia]

My son has them too and can be very difficult to wake when in the throes of a bad episode. I've found that if he gets too hot, he gets them. He's also a very imaginative little boy and I don't think this helps. I've taken to kissing good dreams into him by kissing his forehead.... at least that is what I tell him and he settles down easier.

Horrible as a parent - I feel he should be free from all nastiness and fear, and just be covered in goodness and joy!