My 9 yr old nephew keeps getting terrible nightmares what can we do about it?

Question

He also sometimes vomits & shakes after he has one! Very scary! Any suggestions or help would be great.

Answer 1

Bless his little heart!!!! My little boy used to have nightmares, not really bad ones to where he was shaking and vomiting. Is he by any chance around alot of arguing or anything like that. If not, then all i can suggest is to read him a nice , funny little bedtime story every night,( if possible) . I know that is not always possible because i am a working mother and sometimes when i get home he is already in the bed. Give it a try and see how it works!! Children LOVE to be read to at nightime!!! Also, Please try your best to stay as close by as you can at nighttime because dreams can also be very dangerous especially when they start sleepwalking.....Take care of him and please write back when things have calmed down some. The best of luck to you and him. May god be with the two of you right now!!! Darlene

Answer 2

You didnt mention whether or not anyone has tried talking to him about them. If he remembers what the nightmare is about, it is much easier to take guesses as to the root of the problem. If it is something similiar to night terrors it may be a different story. The only thing I can suggest, with limited information, is approx. two to three hours before his bedtime, start the winding down process. This would be the time to give him a bath, pick up any toys left out, read etc. Try to make it a smooth relaxing transition. One thing that I have done for my kids is put little lavender sachets that I made in their pillow case (you could put one at the head of the bed under the sheet). As long as you make sure the scent isnt overpowering, it helps promote relaxation. Camomile is good as well.

If it continues or worsens, I would consult his pediatrician.

Answer 3

Check out what he's watching on tv. My son loves to watch things like Incredible Hulk, Daredevil, etc. with his daddy and isn't scared while watching. But he suffers from night terrors (which might actually be what you nephew is suffering from as well) and they are more frequent after he watches those types of movies. Also, make sure he's getting enough sleep. Even if he doesn't think he's tired, he should be getting at least 10 hours of sleep a night. Being overtired is one of the triggers for night terrors.

Answer 4

Talk with your nephew or have the parents of your nephew talk with him. Figure out what the source of his nightmares are or may be. Have his parents change his bedtime habits. And if all else fails, go see a doctor about it.

Answer 5

Make sure to monitor what he is watching, I stopped Scooby Doo when my son was 2, and he stopped having nightmares. A cartoon you think is harmless may actually be what is causing the nightmares.

Answer 6

We usually pray with our daughter. I think that they have played hard during the day too and the body finds it hard to just settle down. If they have seen or heard of something that bothers them a nightmare may come out of it. Maybe taking the time to talk about anything that could've bothered him and pray with him about it.

Answer 7

Usually any dream is a reflection of our real problems or worries. If you're sure that your nephew doesn't have any evident fears, difficulties or some negative memories about some past event, then you should see a psychologist.

Answer 8

Well children often have nightmares if they think there's a monster under there bed. or maybe his mom haven't been playing much with each other. or maybe his mom should just ask him what is the most scarest nightmare and then just change the people and make it fun!

Answer 9

Check what he is eating and drinking before bedtime, sometimes certain foods can cause nightmares. I found this article once:

What Causes Nightmares?

Nightmares affect both children and adults. They usually occur during deep sleep patterns. Children's deep sleep conditions (nightmares and bed-wetting) are often related to food allergies. Nightmares are more common during illness involving fever, or during times of excess fatigue or exhaustion. With children, scary stories and television violence can precipitate a nightmare, especially in younger children (3 to 4 years old) who still have difficulty distinguishing between fantasy and reality.

Can Certain Foods Cause Nightmares?

With children, nightmares often occur after eating sugar, spicy, or exotic foods before bedtime. Eating sugar before bed often results in high blood sugar (hyperglycemic) for a short while, then, often after the person goes to sleep the body becomes low in blood sugar (hypoglycemic) and this is thought to contribute to nightmares. In adults, eating sugary, spicy or exotic foods, drinking alcohol or taking drugs before bedtime often precipitates nightmares.

What Do You Recommend For Nightmares?

For people who are dealing with nightmares, especially children, I recommend avoiding all forms of sugar, and graphic physical or emotional violence (television) for one to two hours before bedtime. I recommend that these people take vitamin B6 and amino acids before going to bed, and again if they wake during the night, to assist in keeping the body's blood sugar balanced all night long

Answer 10

Maybe he is watching to much of violent cartoon, the girl above is right read him happy ending stories and paint his room a lighter color as well. Light colors bring better vibes.