When do kids have nightmares

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Article Sleep Struggles? On this page. A range of possible causes Coping with your child's nightmare Don't make things worse Prevention suggestions Where to get help. A range of possible causes Some of the possible causes of nightmares include: The ordinary stresses and strains of growing up A traumatic event, such as an accident or surgery Fever An active imagination.

Coping with your child's nightmare Suggestions include: Go to your child as soon as you can. If your child's bedroom is far from yours and you can't be sure to hear them when they call or cry, consider installing a baby monitor. Cuddle and reassure your child. Talk calmly and gently. Appreciate that your child's feelings are genuine. Be prepared to stay with them until they have calmed down.

If your child is particularly frightened, you may need to soothe them with a favourite but relaxing activity, such as reading a book together. Your child may want to talk to you about their nightmare.

Encourage them to come up with alternate endings for the nightmare that are happy or funny. Don't make things worse You may, without meaning to, make the situation worse. Do not: Ignore the child — if you refuse to go to them, your child will only get more upset and frantic. Get angry — you may think your child is 'putting it on' for attention, or else you don't appreciate a broken sleep. Either way, expressing anger or tension will only upset your child even more. This usually doesn't work, and kids who do wake are likely to be disoriented and confused, and may take longer to settle down and go back to sleep.

If your child has a night terror around the same time every night, you can try waking him or her up about 15—30 minutes before then to see if that helps prevent it.

Understanding night terrors can ease your worry — and help you get a good night's sleep yourself. But if night terrors happen repeatedly, talk to your doctor about whether a referral to a sleep specialist is needed. Larger text size Large text size Regular text size. What Are Night Terrors? During a night terror, a child might: suddenly sit upright in bed shout out or scream in distress have faster breathing and a quicker heartbeat be sweating thrash around act upset and scared After a few minutes, or sometimes longer, the child simply calms down and returns to sleep.

What Causes Night Terrors? In the throes of a nightmare, most children will be relatively non-responsive. Vocalizations, movements, and autonomic symptoms such as rapid breathing, perspiration, or dilated pupils are uncommon for children having bad dreams. Many children feel helpless or anxious upon waking up, and this can cause their heart rate to speed up dramatically.

Over time, children who frequently experience nightmares can develop insomnia symptoms linked to feelings of dread over falling asleep and having a bad dream. Studies and surveys have yielded different findings regarding the prevalence of nightmares for different age groups. However, this research suggests a peak in nightmares for children between the ages of 3 and 6, as well as those aged 5 to 9.

Infant and toddler nightmares have been documented, but are believed to be not as common — though the majority of studies regarding children and nightmares have focused on subjects aged 5 and older. Nightmares appear to affect both sexes equally up to age 12, but some studies indicate bad dreams are more prevalent for girls beginning at age Nightmares are often mistaken for night terrors, which are defined as episodes of terror and panic that occur during sleep. Unlike nightmares, night terrors are often accompanied by vocalizations, autonomic symptoms, and other signs the child is acting out against the dream.

Another key difference between nightmares and night terrors is timing. Because they involve unusual behaviors during sleep, night terrors are considered a type of parasomnia.

A single episode can last up to 90 minutes. Night terrors are most common in children ages 3 to 7, and typically begin to taper off after age Roughly 30 percent of children experience night terrors, and these episodes appear to affect boys and girls in equal proportion. Night terrors are much rarer for adults. Some studies suggest a link between adult night terrors and neurologic disorders, but more research is needed to cement this.

Many people who experience night terrors also sleepwalk, and research suggests a higher risk of night terrors if the child or adult has a family history. Counseling, anticipated awakening, and addressing underlying medical issues or stress is part of treatment. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medication to reduce night terror episodes. Therapy may be recommended for severe cases.

While medication is generally discouraged, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRIs may be prescribed due to the widespread belief that night terrors are linked to serotonin levels. Beyond these treatment methods, reassurance and education are considered the most effective methods of reducing night terror episodes. The prognosis is good for the majority of children diagnosed with night terrors who receive proper intervention.

For children who experience occasional nightmares, reassurance is often the most effective tactic. Parents should discuss fears and anger triggers with their children in a relaxed setting.

This can help promote feelings of relaxation before bedtime, which in turn may improve their sleep quality and minimize their risk of disruptive dreams. That said, too much reassurance can have the opposite effect.