With the stress of going back to school after the holidays, it is not surprising to see your kid experiencing nightmares. Nightmares in school-age children are not uncommon, but unlike adults, kids tend to be extremely scared and may not know how to handle them. In this read, we are going to take a look at a few simple tips that parents can use to help their young ones handle or even avoid nightmares.
1. Comfort them with a Hug & Calming Words
It is important to remind the young one that nightmares are not real. If they remember the dream, ask them to talk about it and see whether you can pick up what they are worried about. More often than not, stress and worries are the primary causes of nightmares, insomnia, and other sleeping issues. Ensure that they are as comfortable as possible in their bed, find the best black friday mattress deals. You can also try a weighted blanket that is designed to help with anxiety and promote a restful sleep.
2. Avoid Scary Movies and Books Before Bedtime
Scary stories and movies contribute to nightmares as the thoughts and visions are still fresh in the mind. For the younger kids, consider getting an anti-monster spray, which is an incense diffuser or aerosolized spray.
How to Deal with Night Terrors
Nightmares and night terrors might seem to be different sides of the same coin, but there is one vital difference. Unlike nightmares, kids do not typically awaken from night terrors. During these episodes, they may shout, scream, kick and fail and appear terrorized. Also, it is extremely hard to wake or communicate with the young ones when they are experiencing a night terror.
Night terrors can seem traumatizing during the several seconds or minutes they last, but the child will usually go back to normal sleep and have no memory of the incident the day after. Also, night terrors are more common in girls than boys and tend to disappear during their teenage years.
If your young one experiences an episode, speak softly and gently, while squeezing their hand and providing reassurance. Avoid shaking or waking them up as this could make the experience worse. While it might be unpleasant to watch, wait for the episode to end. It does not last long and they won’t remember it the next morning.
With the above tips, you should be able to help your child handle nightmares and night terrors.
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