10 and a 1/2 year old has nightmares every night. What to do?

by Deliciously Melicious Posted 2012/06/12 16:51:30

Related Topics: Night, Nightmare, Old, Year

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Suggestions? Ideas?

Shawna 2012/06/12 19:11:58

+3
My son used to have nightmares but also trouble getting to sleep because he would have bad thoughts -sort of awake nightmares-even before getting to sleep. I taught him to take control of his thoughts and to think funny ones. He would remember a scene from a favourite show or make something up and spend some time imagining these things before going to sleep. It seemed to help.
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beach bum 2012/06/13 11:49:31

night light

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Ruby Dear - The Fangirl of ... 2012/06/13 10:01:34

+1
I haven't come across this yet, but singing helps my kids sleep sometimes.

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Der Haifisch 2012/06/12 21:35:04

+1
Play this song.

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Shawna 2012/06/12 19:11:58

+3
My son used to have nightmares but also trouble getting to sleep because he would have bad thoughts -sort of awake nightmares-even before getting to sleep. I taught him to take control of his thoughts and to think funny ones. He would remember a scene from a favourite show or make something up and spend some time imagining these things before going to sleep. It seemed to help.

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Delicio... to Shawna 2012/06/12 19:16:34

+3
It seems that way for him too. He gets it into his head that he is going to have them, before he has them. I will keep trying to get him to take control.

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Shawna to Delicio... 2012/06/12 19:23:42

+3
Good luck with it. Maybe you could do some of that pre-dreaming stuff with him. Tell each other your favourite funny things. I also used to talk about dreams the next day with my son. In fact, at nearly eighteen he still tells me what he dreamed last night. Talking about them, even if they were nightmares, allows you to see how they had flaws or even to possibly laugh at them for being silly.

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Delicio... to Shawna 2012/06/12 19:29:30

+2
Thanks Shawna, I appreciate it.

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Flowers 2012/06/12 18:50:12

+3
I read a response to someone else, sounds like you are doing everything you can to prevent the dreams. A cleansing sounds like a viable option. I hope it gets better :-\

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Delicio... to Flowers 2012/06/12 19:18:06

+3
Thanks Flowers, it's frustrating because neither of us are getting any sleep.

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oldlady 2012/06/12 18:23:16

+2
I once had a step daughter who had the same problem. She loved the movie "Little Rascals" so I taped the audio only for her cassette player. She was able to fall asleep with only good and funny thoughts and it worked out well. We are what we see and hear all day and need to clean the slate for sleep :/

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XXrawwwrXX 2012/06/12 18:15:54

+2
im in the same boat with my 8 year old. we have night lights in pretty much every room, and she goes to bed with one of her favorite toys. we usually put some music on, or have the tv on, she still has nightmares, but it seems to help her calm down after she has them.
maybe take the child to the doctor, or talk to them about what the nightmares are about, you might find that they were abused in some way, or that something they saw freaked them out.

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Delicio... to XXrawwwrXX 2012/06/12 18:45:45

+3
He says that the ghosts of our family appeared and want to kill him. :/

I don't let him watch scary movies and television. Last night we watched "So You Think You Can Dance". He has music and night lights, and his animals. I added a dreamcatcher to his room. I told him that he should write his dreams in his head, think about what he wants to dream about while falling asleep.

I might have him talk to somebody, and have the house cleansed. LOL

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XXrawwwrXX to Delicio... 2012/06/12 19:12:29

thats one of the problems with my daughter. she says the ghosts she sees, some of them want to hurt her. thinking about what you want to dream about, helps (at least it did for me)
sometimes its not that the house needs cleansed, its just that they need something, though cleansing it might help. i hope he sleeps better soon

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Cuppajo 2012/06/12 17:07:56

+2
Monitor what they are playing (video games), watching on tv, and perusing on the internet.
Something's freaking them out, if it's none of those, there may have been an instance of abuse (by anyone, possibly another child).

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Twitch 2012/06/12 17:03:03

+1
Night light, stuffed animal, TV on, (if one is in room) talking about the nightmares to get to the bottom of them. If they are severe enough for counseling, I would recommend that.

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Sister Jean 2012/06/12 17:01:18

+3
see Doc

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swimmingswan 2012/06/12 16:58:17

+1
something maybe happening at school thats frightening , talk to a therapist it would help the child to open up and talk it might help and pay the school a visit maybe he or she is getting bullied.

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Delicio... to swimmin... 2012/06/12 16:58:50

School is out for summer. :/

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**Bessie** 2012/06/12 16:53:31

+3
I wish I had an answer...I don't dream or nightmare. Good luck, I hope the sad nightmares stop!

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