Hi all
Our 4 year old dd has had the occasional bad dream in the past, but over the last few weeks it has become more frequent. They aren't really bad-she isn't screaming out or anything-but whimpering and then getting out of bed and running into our bedroom upset saying she has had a bad dream. Most of the time we can take her back to bed and settle her with a few cuddles and kisses. But 2 nights this week she has refused to stay in bed on her own, and either me or hubby have taken her into the spare room for the rest of the night. I know this isn't ideal and we dont want to get into the habit of this, but seemed the only option to get her back to sleep. When we ask her about the dreams they seem mainly to be about monsters and the like.
I know that bad dreams can be common at this age due to their developing emotions etc, but I am worried they are becoming too frequent. Its definitely not night terrors.
This is however co-inciding with some other changes. She starts school in September. We have been talking about this for a while and she came to see some schools with us and generally seems quite excited to be going to big school, having a uniform, making new friends etc.
She also has a baby sister on the way-due roughly the same time as she starts school-but she doesn't know that-only that she will meet baby in August. Again she seems very excited and accepting of this-often talking about her, how she will help look after her, share her old baby toys and clothes, being proud that she will be a big sister, hugging and kissing bump etc. Again we have been talking to her alot about this and involving her in midwife appointments etc.
She has also started being a little bit more clingy towards me-she normally is more than happy to get dropped of at nursery, but again over the last few weeks has had some mornings where she has clung onto me and not been her bubbly self. She is fine once I leave, but the nursery has said that a few times she has been a bit emotional saying she wants/misses mummy. And then perked up and carried on the day as normal. I am not sure if this is tied in with the bad dreams and the baby. There was an incident a few weeks ago at nursery where a child was suddenly and quite violently sick at meal time, and apparently dd got quite freaked out by this and was quite concerned about him. She has mentioned this boy quite a lot since it happened, and seemed a bit wary of him returning to nursery. We have talked about it quite a bit and she seemed worried that it would happen again once he returned. After the talk and some reassurance and explaining, she seemed a bit happier and said she wasnt worried anymore.
I am jot sure what I am asking here, but i am just wondering if the bad dreams, slight increase in clinginess, and slight reluctance for me to leave her at nursery are quite often things that go hand in hand at this age, or whether it's more likely a reaction to the up coming changes-even though she seems happy/excited about the changes.
This has only really started in the last few weeks, but seems a bit of a coincidence that all these things have happened at once. Am worried that when school does start and baby arrives that things may get worse? We are trying to supportive and re-assuring but wonder if there is anything else we could be doing.
Just wondering of anyone had been though similar, either with or without school and a new baby on the horizon. Any advice or tips?
Thank you so much for reading, and sorry for the mega long post.x