3 year old bad dreams most evenings

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He's a rubbish sleeper so I haven't taken much notice but he's woken most evenings in the last week with bad dreams. He's been ill a lot but I also feel like I've been hard on him recently.

Do we think he's emotionally scarred because his mum's a grumpy tired impatient sod :(, or is it just one of those things?

(Can you tell I feel like I'm making a real hash of things with him?)

One of those things...dont worry! It might be worth talking to him about the dreams and just assuring him that everything will be ok. And lots of hugs and kisses- it will make him feel loved.

Thanks. I've been trying to show him how much I love him but with an 11 week old baby it's hard. Plus DP's been doing bedtimes because she's feeding then, and if we've had bad days in the part I've tried to spend time making it up with good stories and a chat then.

He also said he didn't want to go to nursery today, for the first time since he started in August. He's one of the youngest there at 3.5 and when I spoke to the teacher she said the younger ones were finding preparations for the nativity next week a bit stressful. I spoke to him about it just now, not probing too much, just a general question about whether he was looking forward to it and he's definitely worried about it, he says it's too noisy and gives him a headache. The teacher says it's good preparation for school but as he won't be starting school until August 2012 I don't really think it's essential and I'm wondering whether to keep him home. :(

That is so wierd - I was going to post EXACTLY THIS today.

Dd2 will be 3 on Saturday and she has been having lots and lots of bad dreams recently. Last night she was awake for what felt like hours as she refused to go back to sleep in case the dinosaurs came back into the room. In the end I told her the story of Cinderella and sang to her until she went to sleep.

There is a lot going on - (pre)school concert yesterday, school Christmas party today, her birthday on Saturday. Then the following weekend we are moving back to the UK, which she is aware of. So I am hoping these dreams are all because she is feeling unsettled and once we are home and settled back in she will be ok.

It sounds like your ds is similarly unsettled and I think this is an age where their imagination gets the better of them. I

Oh and sorry I just realised you also have an 11-week-old so it must have been quite a tough time for him anyway. Perhaps this is just his way of dealing with his feelings about the new baby? Dd1 was fine with dd2 until she (dd2) got a bit older and was suddenly more of a threat to her.

Sorry your DD's been struggling too, poor wee souls :(

He's fab with his sister, very affectionate and loving, but I suppose it's possible that subconsciously he's worried by her arrival.

Good luck with the move.