What Is The Best Way To Calm A Child Down After A Nightmare?

Question

a child of the Age 3 to 8

Answer 1

hold them and let them know you love them. Ask them what happened in their dream/nightmare. When they start to tell you it usually calms them down. I or my fiance usually goes in and hold our kids and tell them that we love them and there is nothing to be afraid of, let them know that you are there for them always. We also ask them what happened and we give suggestions on their nightmares. Sometimes stress levels cause these nightmares.

Answer 2

Talk to them....but more importantly, listen to them. Active listening is really important....dont say things like "oh its just a dream....thats silly and could never happen" Instead respond to what they are feeling.
For instance say "that monster sounds really big and must have been very frightenining for you". All people, including kids, respond best and calm down quicker when they know that they are being heard and understood. Once you do that , then you can reassure them that you are there to protect them.
Finally, find a comfort item for them. My daughter had a favorite stuffed animal that made her feel protected from "ghosts", with my son it was a special night light that made him secure. Ask them what they think would help and see if you can pick out something together that works for them.

Answer 3

When he was 4, Rachael Bittick of Clarkston, MI, started screaming out in the middle of the night. But when his mom or dad would rush to his room, he’d be inconsolable — and fast asleep. The very next morning, he would have no idea of what had happened.

Nearly all children experience occasional “confusional arousal” — when they wake up slightly, look around yet don’t seem to comprehend what they’re seeing, then fall right back to sleep. But at least 5 percent of kids suffer from night terrors, which involve screaming, flailing, walking around, and babbling. They’re not having a bad dream, since they’re totally unaware of their behavior. But for parents it can be a nightmare.

Night terrors occur when the brain gets stuck between deeper and lighter levels of sleep, says Deborah Lin-Dyken, M.D., an associate professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Iowa. As kids get older, their brains become able to get past this sticking point and the symptoms stop. Until then, night terrors can’t be cured, but there are ways to stave them off — and handle them when they do happen:

• Avoid triggers like overtiredness, radical schedule changes, fever (reduce it before bedtime), stress, and certain meds (such as antihistamines).
• Keep your cool. He’s not awake, but your child can sense if you’re panicking, so be calm and soothing.
• Preempt him. If your child has night terrors at a certain time, wake him 15 minutes beforehand, then tuck him back in. This will circumvent the “stuckness” that causes the night terror.
• But let him sleep through it. He’ll just be confused and upset if you interrupt it.
• Make sure he’s safe. Clear the floor and watch him so he doesn’t hurt himself if he falls out of bed or wanders around

Answer 4

I would give them a nice cool bath and sit with them and let them watch one of their favorite movies with a snack. And if they didn't want to talk about their nightmare, I wouldn't press them to,this diversion usually helps to erase any remnants of a bad dream and they will go to sleep feeling a lot better. The bath also helps them to calm down. ( Oh it this works for adults too, I do all of the above when I've had an unpleasant dream)

Answer 5

All you have to do is be soothing, rock them, and hold them close. Address the child's fears. If something is in the closet or under the bed. Make a big deal of searching it out and destroying it. Kids love that. They like to be taken seriously. Talk to them about it. Be very reassuring.

Answer 6

Reassure the child thats it only a dream search room for the chost or goblins and then give lots of hugs and tickles. then a cup of warm milk(chocolate & masrhmellows obtional) with honey and maybe a chocolate chip cookie or two just might keep the boogiemen away.

Answer 7

explain to them that even you have nightmares and maybe make up a little silly one to tell them about then say that you remember as soon as you wake up what a silly old nightmare you had. there is a difference though in nightmares and night terrors so read up about that so you can know which is which.

Answer 8

my grandmother used to always sit in my room, rub my back, get me to tell her all about the dream, reassure me that it was only a dream, that everything is ok, and either read to me till I fell back to sleep or tell me something else to think about. It always worked, and now that I have children of my own, I do the same thing for them. We also say a quick prayer that God will keep those yucky bad dreams away.

Answer 9

Lloyd Haines, actor in '60s/'70s TV series about an LA/Hollywood High School (he played a teacher, along with Karen Valentine) once told me regarding my daughters, who were children, then, that when they were upset, for any reason, I should just hold them close to my breast, so that my love could go from me to them, and just listen to them, while silently praying within myself; then, just comfort them with whatever words came to me from God.

We would pray this Baha'i Children's Prayer:

O God, guide me, protect me, illumine the lamp of my heart and make me a brilliant star.

Thou are the mighty and the powerful.

--Baha'u'llah

I think that might be a good thing to do in the case of nighmares, as well.

Answer 10

i say a preyer and give them some water let them talk a little bit about it but not to much and lay them back down don't want them to wake up fully i have 2 5 and 6 years .have they watched something scary ? or a cartoon ? that scared them ?