Can a 2 and a half year old be having nightmares?

[twiglett]

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In my experience it could be a nightmare or maybe a night terror. My dd (2.5) sometimes has nightmares and has had a night terror once. That's when they look as if they're awake but really they're not, their eyes are open and they scream, you just have to leave them to it. If it's a night terror, just be there, make sure he's safe, don't try to wake him. It's a very distressing thing to witness, but nothing you can do about it but wait for it to pass. HTH

I thought night terrors were more middle of the night things iyswim.

Could he be scared of the dark (maybe not if he's gone to bed before 8pm). Although maybe he's scared of it getting dark.
I suppose he could have had a night terror in the past and now be scared of going to sleep?

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