At what age do you thing children start to have nightmares?

Question

My 20 month old daughter has been sleeping through the night like a champ since she was about 9 months old. I very rarely have to go into her room at night anymore (normally only when she doesn't feel well). However, occassionally she wakes up crying really hard. Body racking, choking, can't breathe, sobs. All I have to do is go into her room, pick her up out of her crib, and sit down in the chair in her room. She (usually) just collapses right onto my shoulder, twirls my hair in her little fingers, and promptly goes back to sleep. I would like to know your opionions on whether or not you think she is having nightmares? I know that she is old enought to remember things, and retain information, so I was just wondering what other parents think (or have experienced). Thanks for your responses!

Answer 1

I read somewhere it is at age 2 that children start having bad dreams.

here is a good read!!!!!


Nightmares are greatly influenced by the particular stressors and anxieties present in the child's waking life. Typical childhood nightmares include dreams of abandonment; of being lost; of falling; or being chased, bitten, or eaten by a monster or hostile animal. Dream researchers have observed a developmental progression in the content and frequency of children's nightmares. A two-year-old dreamer may recall a fearful dream, but be unable to give form to the source of the threat. By the age of five, the frightened young dreamer may identify the attacker as a monster or wild animal. Older children who have developed more of an understanding of real-life dangers report dreams of pursuit by mean or bad people.

Children gradually develop the ability to understand the difference between dreams and reality. Very young children have great difficulty believing that the dream is not real. By three to four years of age, however, most children can distinguish between the nightmare content and their waking reality.

When a child is awakened by a nightmare she will soon become fully alert and able to remember the scary dream in elaborate detail, expressing emotions appropriate to the dream content. The frightened child will resist returning to bed and often seek the comfort and reassurance of a parent or caretaker. Nightmares are different than the non-dream sleep disturbance known as a night terror, which causes only a partial arousal from deep sleep and occurs during the first period of sleep known as slow-wave sleep (SWS). A child experiencing a night terror will be difficult to awaken or comfort, will not recognize her parent or caretaker, and will usually have no memory of the terrifying emotions that caused the sleep disturbance.

Answer 2

When I got married my husband son was 2. His first night over after we got married he woke up much like this, and my husband told me he did it quite often and must not be a good sleeper.
Over the next couple weeks it became clear that something had troubled him. We believe it was nightmares.
We have since seen a child psychologist and she confirmed that yes, toddlers and young children can have nightmares. Usually their nightmares are about being abandoned, unloved, or in some cases if something unfamiliar happens that scares them they can almost re-live it.
Im sorry your little one is going through this so early, I can say that I've been there, and its tough. I dont know a solution for one that young. As my stepson got older we would discuss what woke him up and why it wasnt scary, but at 20 months, that might be a bit tough :)
She'll make it through, she has you!

Answer 3

Your child is developing her imagination. It is definitely a sign that she is having nightmares. The fact that you are able to calm her down, shows that it is nothing more than that. Just be sure to leave her nightlight on and keep doing what you are doing, because she just needs to be consoled, just like when she was a newborn! My two year old wakes up every now and then crying, but she just needs to know I am around and she will go back to sleep! If it gets worse, and she is not consolable, see a doctor for a further diagnosis.

Answer 4

My first memory is at the age of 2! Its not really so much a memory as it is a snapshot of moments that happened when around the age of 2-3! But you have to understand that even if she doesnt actually "remember" the molestation, it happened to her and is in her subconscious now and will be there forever. She may not understand why she does what she does but the molestation has played a role and will continue to play a role in her life. She should definitely be taken to a psychologist and gotten some help for her issues. Best of Luck ~D~

Answer 5

I think its possible for even children under 1 year of age to have nightmares. But definitely by 15 to 18 months. They can put things in order and work out mental problems in their brains. So its relevent to say they can also dream, which makes it possible to have nightmares. Also, when my son was a little over 1 year of age he would laugh in his sleep and smile like he was off somewhere having a good time. Very cool to watch.

Answer 6

Why Do Kids Have Nightmares

Answer 7

It sounds like it, our youngest was having bad dreams not much older than this age.
Of course one of us would always go to him, a lot of times he would never even wake up and I dont think he ever remembered. They continued on an doff until he was about 15 or 16, not much encouragement I know.
Wish I knew more about it but unfortunately I dont.
It's a lot harder on the parents than the children though.
Ask your doctor, there may be some things new out there, our youngest is 22 now LOL.

Answer 8

Night terrors. Our little girl that's about the same age doesnt but her brother at about that age did. It all depends on the brain of the child. Our little boy has a very capable memory and he suffers from some pretty severe night terrors. Our little girl that's about the same age doesn't really see the reason to remember a lot of things; she's pretty care free from one moment to the next.

Answer 9

I remember that I had nightmares before I was 3 years old. Of course my nightmares weren't as bad as they are now, but it was a reoccuring nightmare of very large zoo animals. Crazy I know, but it's definitely possible when the child is around 2 I'd say.

Answer 10

I say from 3 months on. The world is a scary place, and tv is no help. Babies and Toddlers and Children do not know better. They don't know if they should be scared.

My son who is one is terrified of this piggy bank that we used to have in his room. Now it sits in the basement. Its a family piggy bank, been around for like ever.