Why Do Kids Have Nightmares And How To Help Them?

Nightmares are experienced by most of us at least once in our lifetime. But nightmares in children may be disturbing and scary for them. The definition of a nightmare as per The International Classification of Sleep Disorders Third Edition (ICSD-3) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), is “repeated happenings of extended, intense dysphoric, and well-remembered dreams usually involving threats for survival, security, or physical integrity (1).”

Some adults usually have unpleasant dreams if they are disturbed or have deep thoughts about something. But, it might be surprising to know that children also get nightmares. As per a few studies, 13.5% of kindergarten-aged children may have at least one bad dream in a week, and the prevalence of this condition is 87% and 95.7% in seven to nine-year-olds, respectively (2).

Read on as we explain some essential information about nightmares in children.

Why Do Children Have Nightmares?

Although the exact cause of nightmares is unknown, children seem to experience more nightmares when they are stressed or scared of something. According to a cross-sectional study conducted on 6,359 children, hyperactivity, frequent temper outbursts, and poor academic performance are associated with recurring nightmares in children (3).

The same study suggests that frequent nightmares could result from various factors, including sleep problems, drastic changes in their lives, family economic status, and the atmosphere at home (3).

Sometimes, children can get nightmares after watching a horror movie or reading a scary book right before bedtime. Children might also experience nightmares when a significant change happens in their life, such as moving away from home, attending a new school, or experiencing a family tension.

Although occasional nightmares may be harmless and subside soon, chronic and recurring nightmares could cause personal distress and indicate a broad spectrum of psychopathological symptoms in children. These symptoms could include elevated anxiety traits, difficult temperament, and emotional and behavioral problems (3).

Nightmares Vs. Night Terrors

Nightmares are often confused with night terrors. Go through this table to learn how these differ (4).

Signs Of Nightmares In Children

Nightmares usually occur during REM sleep and can be identified with the following signs (5).

• The child will experience feelings of terror, fear, distress, and anxiety.
• The child will abruptly wake up in the middle of the night.
• They will be able to describe the details of the dream.

When To Call Your Doctor?

You should call your doctor if you notice the below signs.

• The nightmares become recurrent and aggressive.
• Your child is afraid to go to bed.
• The episodes are traumatic and interrupt your child’s sleep.
• Your child’s daytime activities are being interrupted.

Diagnosis Of Nightmares In Children

Your child’s doctor would do a thorough physical examination of your child and ask questions about their medical history. You can expect questions regarding:

• The time when the nightmare occurs
• The nature of the nightmare
• The occurrence of symptoms during daytime naps
• Symptoms observed during wakeful times
• Presence of stereotypic or rhythmic movements during the nightmare

In rare cases, your doctor might turn to an electroencephalogram (EEG). In case they suspect an epileptic disorder, they may try to record a video of the nightmare episode (4).

How Are Nightmares Addressed?

Uncomplicated and occasional nightmares triggered by external events usually subside as the child matures. If your doctor assures you that your child doesn’t have any psychological or neurological problems, the nightmares can be reduced by following the below steps.

1. Maintain a consistent bedtime routine. To reduce episodes of nightmares, make sure your child follows a consistent bedtime routine. They also need to get the required hours of sleep, preschoolers (3–5 years) need 10–13 hours of sleep, children (6–13 years) need 9–12 hours of sleep, and teenagers (14–17 years) need 8–10 hours of sleep (6).

2. Make day time naps shorter. This could help toddlers and preschoolers. If your child sleeps during the daytime, make sure it is not for more than an hour. This will help them stick to their bedtime routine.

3. Create a pleasant environment. It is important to create a pleasant and quiet environment for your child to sleep. Keep the room dark and eliminate all distractions and noises. You can also sing a lullaby or tell a nice bedtime story to help them relax and have a good night’s sleep.

4. Follow good sleep hygiene. It may also help reduce the frequency of nightmares. Ask your child to take a bath before going to bed. Make sure they have their dinner at least two hours before their bedtime. Also, restrict their intake of fluids one hour from bedtime, and ask them to visit the bathroom before bed.

5. Talk to your child. If your child has gone through a drastic change in their life, such as leaving their friends to attend a new school, it might cause stress and nightmares. So, take out some time and sit with them to understand their feelings and assure them it’s okay and everything will be fine soon.

6. Do not pamper them excessively. It is true your child is afraid of the nightmares and is having trouble falling asleep. However, you should make sure not to give in and pamper them excessively. Do not allow them to sleep with you. Instead, stay in their room for some time, cuddle and comfort them, and leave as soon as they fall asleep.

• • Give them a soft toy or a blanket to snuggle and sleep with.
  • Turn on a dim bed light if your child is afraid of darkness.
  • Leave their bedroom door open to give them the assurance that they are safe and you are right in the next room.
  • Answer their calls immediately if they call out during the night

7. Help them overcome fear. Whatever your child’s anxieties are, you can help them get over them. Work along with your child to help them overcome them. You can ask them to write down their fears, or draw their fears, rip the paper, and throw it into the dustbin. You can also share your childhood fears and how you overcame them.

8. Help them build self-confidence. During their daytime play, include activities that can help boost their self-confidence. You can ask them to tell a story or draw about their fears. Discuss their fears and tell them the reality. You can also reward and appreciate them when they achieve something (4).

9. Interrupt the nightmare cycle. When nightmares are frequent and severe, it can be helpful to track when they occur. If there is a consistent time, wake the child up for a brief period before they would usually have the nightmare. Doing this for a few days can break the nightmare cycle.

References

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Reviewer

Katherine PaxtonApplied Psychology Program

 

Katherine Paxton is an internationally-known award winning author of the book “Counselling people on the autism spectrum; A practical manual”. She graduated from a tri-university Applied Psychology Program of Campus Alberta (University of Alberta, Athabaska University, and University of Lethbridge).

Read full bio of Katherine Paxton