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?!!!

a dream catcher? although she might be abit young for the concept?

you could tell her it would magically catch her bad dreams and keep anything that might scare her away.

I used to 'look after' my ds' dreams and have to tell him every night before sleep all the wonderful things he would dream about - like living in a chocolate factory or driving a racing car!

He's 8 1/2 and only now got out of asking me to do this. I didn't push it but would occasionally 'forget' to tell him.

If it's been going on for over a year I'd suggest you take her to a doctor. Her sleep pattern is clearly out of whack and cumulative fatigue has all kinds of side-effects. If the whole family is tired and anxious at night then she's likely to pick up on that... again, keeping the prolem going.

There could be a physical/clinical problem that you don't know about, for example, that is causing it. A doctor might have more ideas. And a mild sedative could be required in order to re-establish her sleep patterns back to something more normal and get her out of the habit.