How to Help Your Child With Nightmares and Night Terrors

Understanding and Supporting Your Child With Nightmares and Night Terrors

As a holistic sleep consultant, I often hear from parents worried about their child’s nightmares or night terrors. These sleep disturbances can feel upsetting for both child and parent — but understanding the difference between them and knowing how to respond can make nights much calmer for everyone.

What Are Nightmares?

Nightmares are vivid, frightening dreams that usually occur during REM sleep, often in the early hours of the morning. Almost all children will experience them at some stage — they are a completely normal part of development.

What to Do if Your Child Has Nightmares

When a child wakes from a nightmare, they are usually fully awake and remember what scared them. The best thing you can do is offer comfort and reassurance.

💡 Try saying:

“That sounds really scary. I used to have bad dreams sometimes too, but you’re safe

Avoid creating things like “monster spray,” as this can reinforce the idea that monsters are real. Instead, acknowledge their fear, share empathy, and reassure them that they are safe. Most children outgrow nightmares with time and consistent reassurance.

Possible Triggers for Nightmares

Nightmares can sometimes be triggered by media, stress, or changes in the environment. Consider:

• TV shows, books, or games that may be too stimulating

• Shadows or noises in your child’s bedroom

• Changes at home, nursery, or school

💡 Try turning your child’s room into a comforting, love-filled space. For example, I once helped my children, Ivy and George, look around their bedroom and talk about how every toy or decoration was from someone who loves them. It became a calming, bedtime ritual that reminded them they were safe and loved.

How To Help Your Child With Nightmares

Here are several gentle strategies which will help your child with nightmares:

• Use a nightlight to help ease fear of the dark.

• Welcome connection — let your child know they can always come to you if they’re scared.(When Ivy has a nightmare, she knows she can climb into our bed, and I love that she feels safe enough to do so.)

• If bedsharing isn’t possible, try setting up a floor bed in your room, or spend time settling your child in theirs until they feel calm.

• Talk about the nightmare during the day. Drawing or rewriting the ending can help your child process and reframe the dream.

What Are Night Terrors?

Unlike nightmares, night terrors occur during deep (non-REM) sleep, often in the first few hours of the night.

During a night terror, your child might:

• Cry, scream, or thrash around

• Appear awake with eyes open, but be unresponsive

• Say confused or nonsensical things

Children usually don’t remember a night terror the next morning.

How to Help Your Child With Night Terrors

• Stay calm and present. Don’t try to wake your child — this can make them more distressed.

• Keep them safe. Make sure they don’t hurt themselves during the episode.

• Look for patterns. Night terrors often occur at similar times each night. You can gently rouse your child about 15 minutes before the usual time with a quick cuddle or sip of water — this can sometimes prevent the episode.

• Reduce stress and overtiredness. Night terrors are often triggered by lack of sleep, illness, or big changes (like potty training or starting nursery).

Final Thoughts on How to Help Your Child With Nightmares and Night Terrors

Nightmares and night terrors can be unsettling, but they are common and temporary phases of childhood sleep. By offering reassurance, creating a calm environment, and keeping routines consistent, most children naturally grow out of them.

If you’re finding your child’s sleep disruptions are affecting the whole family, you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Need Personalised Support?

As a holistic sleep consultant, I can help you understand the root cause of your child’s sleep issues and create a gentle, tailored plan that works for your family.👉 Book a free discovery call or explore my 1:1 sleep support packages to get started.