DS is 7yo, and from a very young age has always had ‘bad dreams’.
He slept in the same room as a sibling but they are a good bit older and wanted their own room, so since about 4yo has slept alone.
He just doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like going to sleep. He says he always has bad dreams...bears chasing him, dogs attacking school, Minecraft pigs chasing him...that sort of thing.
He has often called out for me at night, in fact used to be nearly nightly, but it’s more the going to sleep now.
He gets quite teary, and I feel awful. He is so resigned to being upset each night. He tells me he is awake a lot due to the dreams.
Has anyone been through this? Anything that helped?
I do tell him that they are only dreams, can’t hurt us, try to go to sleep thinking nice thoughts, “I don’t know how”, also have told him to try ‘finishing’ the bad dream when he wakes, like have a magic wand and make the bear disappear etc...any advice?? Thanks.