3 yr old waking with Nightmares

[LittleB]

Dd has just turned 3 and for the last few nights has been waking up with nightmares, sometimes several times a night. Her nightmares are about wolves trying to get in, being stuck under water etc. I try not to expose her to scary things, but she goes swimming, she knows the stories of little red riding hood, and the three little pigs. I tell her I've chased the wolves away and the fairies have come to look after her, and calm her down, tuck her in with her teddies and leave her. We try to bribe her, (she gets a treat if she sleeps through - we started this just before Christmas and it improved her sleeping enourmously) but thats not helping this time.
Anyone got any suggestions, should we try a nightlight - we have a nightlight on our landing that gives a very dim light in her room, or is there anything else anyone can suggest?

[bubblagirl]

pick stories carefully before bed choose nice cheery story of fairies who lookafter you when sleeping amke one up

i would get nice night light in her room

at this age they have such active imaginations that maybe a nice soft calming story before bed she may dream nice things

at the end of the day you cant help having a night mare just continue reassuring her and hopefully they will come to an end

[LittleB]

Thanks Bubblagirl, I do make sure she doesn't have the scary stories just before bed but I guess she remembers them from earlier in the day or preschool etc. the other day she told me dhe's had a lovely dream about being a butterfly, so I remind her of that dream. Can you recommend a good light, I've seen some that change colour but don't know where they come from, would you leave it on all night or just put it on when she wakes?

[bubblagirl]

i have a light that you plug in and it comes on when room gets dark and turns off when room gets light

it was only cheap from wilkinson i think

you can get themed plug in lights that have pretty pictures but i just opt for normal

oh and i got him a cheap hippo torch that shone stars so if he woke he could play with the torch and shine stars on his ceiling

i think its an age thing and the fact they have more imagination just needs distraction when waking

so tell her if you wake and have bad dream shine the starson the ceiling and the night fairies will watch over you or something like that lol