👻 Nightmares are frightening dreams that can wake your toddler, leaving them distressed and in need of comfort. It is common for toddlers, especially those under 5, to feel anxious or scared about going back to sleep or being alone. This is because they cannot differentiate between dreams and reality until around the age of 7 🤯. Consequently, they may develop a persistent fear that something is going to harm them 😖
While nightmares are developmentally normal and can’t be entirely prevented due to their developing imagination, there are some solutions and strategies we can implement to reduce the likelihood of them occurring, such as:
🫶🏻 Discussing their worries:
Pay attention to any stress or anxiety your toddler may be experiencing during the day to understand the underlying cause. Openly talk about their worries and provide reassurance to help them feel more relaxed and comfortable at bedtime.
📺 Limit exposure to scary content:
Monitor what your toddler is exposed to during the day. Avoid scary stories, TV shows, or movies that could trigger their nightmares. Be mindful that something we may not perceive as scary could be terrifying to them, such as masked characters or certain cartoons.
😘 Comfort and reassurance:
Reassure your toddler that they are safe and that you will always be there for them whenever they need you throughout the night. When a nightmare occurs, provide immediate comfort, speak in soothing tones, and reiterate they are safe.
🕰️ Early bedtime:
When your toddler is overtired, they spend more time REM sleep, which increases their susceptibility, frequency, and intensity of nightmares occurring. Therefore, always offer an early bedtime where necessary to prevent them from going to bed overtired 😴.
If despite these suggestions your toddler continues to wake frequently and you need support in consolidating their sleep, book a consultation or download our Toddler* Sleep Essentials guide via our website which provides more detailed strategies for managing nightmares and night terrors, aimed at restoring sleep for you and your entire family 💫🩷🌸