Nightmare worries

[hollyround]

My daughter who is 3 1/2 has been having "bad dreams" for well over a year now and normally wakes 3 times most nights. The result is we are all knackered! I can't find any obvious reason for her to be having nightmares, she has home cooked food, as few additives etc as poss, a good bedtime routine, bath, story etc, no problems at home and her brother, 6 has had the same and sleeps fine. She has had no change at nursery or home and her teacher hasn't observed any problems. I don't know what to do as am so tired of getting up most nights. If she wakes, I try to just go in, not talk too much and resettle her but if I've been up a lot I will bring her in to my bed as can't stand up much longer! If she sleeps through she gets a reward like a sticker etc and lots of praise. I have tried rescue remedy and lavender oil to no avail. Any ideas?!!! Help?!!!

Is she distressed when she wakes? If not then she may not be actually having bad dreams but getting up out of habit as shes knows she will more than likely end up in bed with you.

The rewards and praise are a really good idea, a chart in her room with stickers she can put on in the morning if shes slept through usually get a good response from children this age.

If shes not distressed and is simply calling then the best ( but not easiest ) idea is to ignore and return to bed EVERY time, you will be knackered but if she doesn't end up in bed with you then she'll get fed up eventually.

If you can get your partner to share the load of getting up in the night it makes it somewhat easier.

A couple of nights spent with a grandparent or someone else close might alos help to break the cycle.

Good Luck

She does seem to be really upset and sometimes she is screaming the house down so it makes ignoring her hard as most of the time she has a valid reason for wanting a cuddle! I think it does seem to be a habit though. She doesn't get out of her bed to come to us, I or my husband only bring her in if we've had a bad night and been up five times or so and only had a few hours sleep. If i was more sure she was just tying it on so to speak it would be harder to resist.