Despite the innocence of children and their lives full of fun and joy, that happy life is not without frightening events.

About 10% to 50% of children between the ages of 3 and 6 suffer from nightmares while they sleep.

What are the nightmares of children?

Nightmares in children are frightening dreams that usually awaken them during their sleeping hours.

These dreams often occur in the last third of the night, which is the rapid eye movement (REM) stage, which is the fourth stage of sleep.

It can include fear or anxiety and other emotions such as anger, sadness, embarrassment or disgust.

For children, the nightmares seem real, and they may struggle to fall back to sleep after the nightmare, and some children may resist going to bed because they want to avoid bad dreams.

Some children suffer from nightmares related to scary movies (social media)

Causes of nightmares

The exact cause of nightmares is unknown, and they are more likely to occur when children are exhausted, and children who have previously experienced traumatic events in their lives may suffer from frequent nightmares.

There are also some medications that may cause the child to have disturbing dreams.

Children are most prone to nightmares

Nightmares can occur in children of any age, but they usually start between the ages of 3 and 6 and decrease after the age of 10.

After the age of 12, girls are more likely than boys to have nightmares.

The types of nightmares differ according to the stage of development.

Younger children are more likely to have nightmares about being separated from parents or seeing a monster.

Older children have nightmares related to scary movies, or the fears and situations they are exposed to at school or in their surroundings.

The difference between nightmares and night terrors

Nightmares are often confused with night terrors, which are defined as panic attacks that occur during sleep.

Unlike nightmares, night terrors are often accompanied by words and other signs that the child acts to confront the dream.

The other major difference between nightmares and night terrors is timing.

Where night terrors occur mainly during the stages of non-rapid eye movement (NREM), while nightmares often occur in the next stage of sleep, which is the stage of rapid eye movement (REM).

And since it involves unusual behaviors during sleep;

The night terror is considered a form of insomnia.

The condition can last up to 90 minutes at a time.

Night terrors are more common in children between the ages of 3 and 7, and they usually start to taper off after the age of 10.

Approximately 30% of children suffer from night terrors, and these attacks seem to affect boys and girls in equal proportions, but it is very rare for adults.

Many people who suffer from night terrors also walk during sleep, and research indicates an increased risk of night terrors if a child or adult has a family history associated with neurological disorders.

In severe cases, doctors may prescribe medication to reduce night terrors.

Reducing the child's risk of nightmares

Nightmares cannot be completely prevented, but parents can pave the way for the child to get a quiet night's rest to relieve the burden on his mind.

Make sure the child gets enough sleep more than usual (Al Jazeera)

Steps to take to reduce your child's likelihood of having nightmares include:

  • Ensure that the child gets enough sleep;

    Children who suffer from nightmares need more sleep than they get regularly.

  • Maintain a bedtime routine and try to make it fun, reading a story or a song.

  • Avoid letting your child watch scary movies or TV shows 30 to 60 minutes before bed.

  • Talk to your child about the nightmare during the day. Try to figure out the reasons for your child's fears, especially if the content of the nightmare recurs, or if it relates to the loss of someone or to a problem related to studies or friends.

  • Try to make your baby feel safe, with calm talk and cuddling, and stay with him for a short time after the nightmare.

  • Show an understanding of your child's fear.

    And remind him that everyone dreams, and sometimes dreams are frightening and disturbing and they can seem very real, so it is normal for him to feel afraid of them, but in reality they are just dreams like the cartoon movie, with no basis in reality.

  • Encourage your baby to fall asleep in his crib, and avoid excessive attention or pampering.

  • Avoid keeping bright lights on in the bedroom, but make sure to have night lights if your little one feels comfortable.

  • Leave the bedroom door open to show your children that the home is safe and that you are near them.