How do you deal with nightmares in children?

[gotmychocolateimgood]

DS age 5 has recently started having nightmares and waking me. He then gets into bed with me. I've never done co sleeping and both DCs have slept well. On the one hand I want to comfort him if he's scared but it's happened 3 nights in the last week. He's a cute little boy but I'd rather sleep on my own and not be woken... What should I do?

Ime straight back to own bed. Quick cuddle =settle back to sleep quickly...

I need to do that and not let him climb in with me... What if he won't settle though? Complaining of being too scared etc.

I take them back to bed and pat, cuddle, stroke until asleep again. If you catch it quickly they often fall straight back to sleep. I can’t sleep with them in my bed so have to do this. However long it takes I still get more sleep than having them in bed.

My ds had a dream catcher and a pillow teddy (opens up to a monkey inside!), his own bed and cosy blanket was familiar had no issues. He had never slept with me either. A nightlight may be good?

With DD, also 5, I get her to wake up properly, go for a wee, (bathroom light helps) shake the bad dream out (get her to wiggle about and shake her hands), remind her that it's only a dream and can't get into real life, and put her back to bed with a hug and a quick chat about happy things to think about. Usually she goes straight back to sleep thinking about chocolate and unicorns.