DD (4) having bad dreams

[lennythelion]

I wonder if anyone can help me - my DD aged 4 has a bad dream every night. It's nearly always the same time of about 8:30pm, although it's sometimes in the middle of the night.

The dream is always that I'm going to leave her and she's absolutely hysterical when I go up to her. Tears and sobbing. She doesn't like talking about the dream but if DH or I ask her if it's about Mummy again and she says yes.

I have just settled down her again. She was so upset but still asleep and would only calm down by coming into the landing with the light on where she wakes up fully. It then takes another 10 mins to settle her back down again.

As far as DH & I can tell, there is nothing she she should be worried about. DH & I are happy so no arguing etc.

The only possible explanation is that she started school in September and is, obviously, seperated from me. I havebeen a SAHM since she was born and take her and pick up from school every day.

Can anyone help? It's awful when your little one is so upset about something that is never going to happen.

Wake her up before it happens...my DD used to do this too...awful..and I am and always have been a SAHM too! My DD was in a right state when she began school but she is 6 now and over it....totally used to it and loves it.

As it happens at around the same time, go in there BEFORE it does...say at about 8.15....shake her gently awake and either give her a kiss and tuck her back up or take her to the loo if she's still not fully trained at night.
Then put her back....I found that 9 times out of ten my DD would be nighmare free for the night.

I don't know what you can do as this nightmare seems to be quite specific, I would saying talking cheerfully and reassuringly helps
my dd had a lot of night terrors around that age would just wake have very disturbed sleep and wake up quite distressed, eventually it went away but she was never specific about what was upsetting her and it would take ages for her to calm down

at this age their imagination grows and so do their fears

Hi Thank you for your responses. Shanahans I will definitely try waking her up.

She had another two nightmares at 10 o'clock and in the middle of the night. We brought her into our bed in the night and she settled and had a good sleep.

It's really upsetting not to mention exhausting.