Any stories about coping with bad dreams/about dreamcatchers, for scared 4 yr old?

[linspins]

Hello, my little girl keeps getting bad dreams, and I wondered if there were any books that might help soothe her fears. I used to get nightmares too so I understand the irrationality of it all - it's no good me just saying to her 'it's not real' but stories might help us talk around the subject a bit. She wakes up too and imagines shadows are all sorts of scary things.
Any suggestions? Thanks all.

Try 'Darkness Slipped In' by Ella Burfoot. Also try 'Silly Billy' by Anthony Browne which isn't related to the dark but is related to worries - you could maybe get her a set of worry dolls to put under her pillow. Also try 'Bear Under the Stairs' by
Helen Cooper.

we had some anti monster spray (water and lavener oil in a spray bottle) that we sprayed round the room before giong to bed - the lavender was a very calming smell that hung round for a long time.

the other thing I was going to ask was if she had bad dream at the same time each night?
we found that going in and tucking DS1 in 15 minutes before he usually had a bad dream stopped the cycle.

So sorry that your little one is going through this, it is so very frightening and real for them, rationality just doesn't come into it for them

just another thought, does she have a duvet with fairies on? perhaps if she doesn't you could get her one and say that they will keep her safe and look after her whilst she is asleep.

Thanks madamehooch, I'll have a look at those titles.

PowerofGreySkull, she tends to get them between 3am and 5 am ish - but not specific time. I wondered if a full bladder was disturbing her sleep cycle, so we're checking she goes to the loo just before bed, and I ask her too, when she calls me in, in the night. I am breastfeeding my baby, so between waking up for him, and being summoned in to her, I'm not getting much sleep.

I like the anti-monster spray! Might call it 'shadow soother' as she likes the word 'soothe'.
She calls the wall side of her bed 'the dream side' and thinks the dreams come up the small gap. I'm going to try tucking a comforting blanket down there.

Oh bless her she sounds adorable. Hope you get things sorted for you all soon!

She is adorable - and a bit of a minx at the same time!!

Anyone else got any good story books?

You could try The Dreambeast - it's out of print, but available second-hand on Amazon. I read it a few times with mine when they were going through scary dream phases. Or you could try The BFG by Roald Dahl - but that might be a bit long for a 4-year-old.