Nightmares???

Melaina - posted on 04/13/2010

My son has nightmares as well. It's ridiculous for the doctor to say that's impossible! If they've started imaginative play, then they're well imaginative for nightmares. When my bug has a nightmare, I lie down beside him (he's in a toddler bed now, and me and my 9 month preggo belly barely fit beside him, but we sqeeze!) and just talk to him and rub his back until he calms down and can fall back asleep. A few times they've been bad enough that the only way to get him to sleep was to bring him back to bed with us for a while.

Genavive - posted on 04/13/2010

My daughter will be 2 soon and does the same thing. We haven't gone to a doctor yet and most likely wont. My question to you is. Does he watch or seen something that might be scary. Our daughter doesn't find animal planet scary, specially when they show lions and their prey. Yet, when i was making dinner and our roommates where watching something and i wasn't able to stop her from watching it. She screamed that night. Both me and my husband made a rule in the house to not watch or play games that have violance in them. The nightmares stopped.
Another question is, is he learning about the potty? Some children do find the 'potty' a very scary thing. I personally remember from when I was that age, waking up from the 'potty' trying to eat everyone and I was last.

Danielle - posted on 04/12/2010

My kids both have this problem from time to time and share a room (they're almost 4 and 2). Because my kids don't communicate very effectively (my son is autistic), I found other ways to cope with soothing them. I have two lightly dimmed nightlights that they know how to turn up if they wake up and don't remember where they are (we move a lot, military :p) I also put a twilight turtle in their room so they can turn that on and watch the stars on the ceiling until they fall asleep. They each have their "protector". My daughter's is my Puppy Pal Scout which sings her to sleep (she's 2). My son's is Lightning McQueen. As much as I want to help them when they're scared I'm glad that they found other things to look for in security for now at least :) Hope this helps you and good luck!!!

Myra - posted on 04/12/2010

Your doctor is wrong. In children this age, nightmares do happen...and they happen quite frequently. It is believed that nightmares (and night terrors, even) start once the imagination starts to really take off. Because of so much fear with exploring...well, everything a 2yr old's life has to offer, and how big the imagination is growing, it can cause some pretty scary stuff to be in the brain. ...And that's if there's nothing but peaches and cream all day! Throw in an argument your LO overhears, or something on TV that's a little frightening for little eyes, and you have a nightmare on your hands.

When he has a nightmare, comfort your son. Ask him to talk to you about what his dream was (even if you can't understand him, talking will help him). And, just remember that as scary as nightmares are, they are the subconscious working out problems. Eventhough he is scared, it is best for him to sleep in his usual place, not next to your bed. Let him know he can come get you if he needs you, though. You may also want to try getting him a stuffed animal or "blankie" so he can comfort himself if he has a nightmare before he comes and wakes you. If he doesn't have a nightlight, you may want to put one in his room so he isn't waking up in the dark and scared on top of it.

The imagination of toddlers is so big, there just isn't enough time in a day for it, so it just continues on in the sleep.

Dawn - posted on 04/11/2010

Our daughter sometimes wakes in the night having thrashed around a bit and talks in her sleep, often saying, "No, no, no!" I think she dreams vividly and often about situations that have happened during the day that may have upset her. Usually she either falls back asleep or wakes and needs a bit of comfort. We made the mistake of taking her to our bed for a while and that was so much worse with many night wakings.

We finally got her sleeping back in her own bed (we put the front back on her crib instead of the toddler bed, too which has helped). Does he have a lovey object or a blanket? If not, maybe helping him form an attachment to one might help to sooth him. I personally don't think they're too young to have "nightmares" as they have little imaginations. He just needs to know that his room, his bed are safe places and Mommy is only a call away if he needs her. Good luck!

Bobbi - posted on 04/10/2010

My daughter was having nightmare every night but she was alittle older than your son and we took her to the doctor as well but the same answer... and she was also sleeping next to us... We finally got out of her that her nightmares were about bee's chasing her and she is extremely terrified of bee's and all insects. So all we could do was explain to her that bee's aren't going to hurt her, etc... She eventually stopped having nightmares and started sleeping in her bed again but we still can hear her kinda stirring at night like she is having a bad dream but she doesn't wake up screaming anymore. I don't know if this helps you at all but finding out his fears could help, but again a 2 year old can only tell and comprehend so much at his age... I could only suggest trying as much as possible to make him feel secure and safe and maybe (hopefully) he will grow out of his nightmares!