Bad dreams and night terrors can have adverse psychological effect on children and even parents, much more so if it happens with disturbing regularity. Nightmares occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep. It can be a short dream or a long one and stays vivid in the child’s memory for some time.
Night terrors will come earlier, usually within two hours after the child has fallen asleep, and is likely to last for less than an hour.
Unlike nightmares, night terrors will come during the non-REM phase and the child will have his eyes open even though he is asleep all the while. When he awakens though, he’ll have no memory of it.
Parents can do something to alleviate the effects of the nightmares and night terrors on the child. First thing the parent should do is to keep the child in the right frame of mind, that is, calm and comfortable. Babies find the voices of their parents very soothing, so talk quietly to your child before he goes to sleep, perhaps by softly singing a lullaby or telling a short story. This will make the child feel better when he wakens. It’s important for mom and dad to remain calm. Babies will immediately notice any nervousness or tension in their parents and it will rub off on them.
Parents should take the precaution of keeping the child within their hearing distance. There are devices that allow parents to monitor the child. The first moment of a nightmare or night terror is crucial so parents should get to them immediately. And don’t make the mistake of shaking him awake if he is still in sleep.
Stay with him to make sure he goes back to sleep peacefully, or wait for him to wake up. Don’t let him sleep with you after a nightmare, either. This may end up having a negative effect and giving the impression he should be afraid of his own room and bed. If it becomes habit, it could become a difficult one to break.
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