Nightmares are frightening dreams that can wake your toddler, leaving them distressed and in need of comfort 🥺. It is common for younger toddlers to feel anxious about going back to sleep or being alone, as they cannot differentiate between dreams and reality until over the age of 5, leading to a persistent fear that something is going to harm them 😣
Nightmares typically start around the age of 2, but since toddlers have limited vocabulary and communication skills , research makes it difficult to know for certain if they occur earlier 💫. Nightmares usually happen in the second half of the night, AFTER their first 3-4 hours of deep restorative sleep, as this is when their sleep cycles become much lighter and more frequent 🔄
On the other hand, night terrors typically occur in the FIRST* or second stage of deep sleep, often within a few hours of your toddler falling asleep 😴
While younger toddlers can experience night terrors, they are more common in adolescents and preadolescents ⚠️. Night terrors are sudden and intense, often beginning with a bloodcurdling scream and your toddler abruptly sitting upright in bed 😖. They may sweat excessively, have a fast heart rate, and look genuinely terrified 😮💨. Some toddlers may cry or yell out as if they are in danger or try to get out of bed and run away from an unseen threat. These episodes usually last up to 5 minutes before they briefly wake and return to sleep, having little to no recollection of the event.
Around 75% of toddlers will have or experience a nightmare, whereas night terrors occur in as little as 3% of children 😮
If your toddler has developed bedtime fears or is experiencing nightmares or night terrors, please reach out and book a consultation or download our Sleep Essentials Guide at www.settletosleep.com.au so we can implement effective strategies to help ease these challenges 🩷🌸💫