Why Do Children Have Nightmares?
How Your Child Can Sleep Well
Some children, even if they were previously good sleepers, may start waking up at night or having nightmares for no reason. In such cases, just telling them "it was just a dream, it's over" is not enough because dreams have a very realistic side for them. Children of this age have difficulty distinguishing reality from dreams and fantasies. Therefore, in such situations, show that you take your little baby's nightmares seriously and do whatever you think will comfort them at that moment. If your baby frequently wakes up with nightmares, then look at how many stimuli they are exposed to during the day. When they watch television, choose a calming and relaxing program for them, or even better, read them a cheerful story. Observe when these dreams are most frequent. For example, are they more frequent when their babysitter arrives? Or more often during potty training? Moving house or parents starting work can also cause noticeable changes in your child's sleep. Of course, if your baby is sick or teething, you can consider restless nights normal. Know that no child sleeps soundly all night, every night. Therefore, be calm and patient. Your baby will eventually achieve a good sleep routine. Note: Drooling, runny nose, redness on the chin, red cheeks, not wanting the breast or bottle, or trying to suckle more are among the signs of teething.
Reasons for Having Nightmares
Children who are used to falling asleep with their parents may feel abandoned when they wake up later and are taken to their own beds. If this is the case, you can use the "gentle" sleep-inducing method we mentioned earlier until they learn to fall asleep on their own. Other children may not want to give up their nighttime snacks or long cuddles if they have learned that they will receive a suitable treat or a prolonged cuddle when they wake up, even if they sleep through the night. Therefore, it is better to reduce any nighttime treats. If you have such a problem, instead of immediately running to hug your baby when they wake up, try to comfort them from their bedroom door. Additionally, trying to replace the milk you give them when they wake up at night with water can yield good results. This is because children do not consider water a drink worth waking up for during their beautiful sleep at night.
