For the past six nights my 6 year old son has been waking up from bad dreams. He wakes up screaming for me and then goes right back to sleep after I comfort him. At this point I’m a bit sleep deprived and concerned.
I did a little research and this is what I found. According to Web MD nightmares are quite common, particularly for kids between the ages of 3 and 7. During this age the child is becoming more aware of dangers that exist and this can lead to nightmares. These nightmares can be a developmental occurence.
Why do kids have nightmares? According to Web MD, “Being too tired, not getting enough sleep, having an irregular routine for sleep, and having stress or anxiety may all increase the risk of having nightmares. Nightmares can be related to the child’s stage of development. Most nightmares are a normal part of coping with changes in our lives. For children, nightmares could be related to events such as starting school, moving to a new neighborhood, or living through a family divorce or remarriage.”
I tend to be the mom that jumps to horrible conclusions, so this was comforting to me. Have your kids had ongoing nightmares? How did you manage them? Share your story below.
