8 year old fear of bed and nightmares

[pinkhorse]

My 8 year old ds has always been a very good sleeper. He has in the last couple of years had the occasional nightmare. In the last month or so he has become scared of going to bed because he's scared of having nightmares.

It's getting difficult to get him to go to bed and he's become a light sleeper. Tonight he was so worried about going to bed he was sick.

Does anyone have any suggestions? We've tried the usuals eg nightlight, cuddles, reassurance, relaxing bath before bed etc. We can't go on like this.

Anyone?

I'm going through a similar situation with my daughter at the moment who is 8 too. She gets really anxious at bed time and says she can't sleep as she's thinking about death and horrible things (we don't let her watch anything non age appropriate so not been triggered by a film etc).
I would ordinarily let her sleep with us, but I also have her toddler sister coming into our bed too. My huband invented a nicd things bubble (a bit like a mind map with happy thoughts) which has been helpful. Nevertheless she's still not right so I'm considering taking her to the GP.
Not much help in my reply I'm afraid, just some empathy for what you're going through.

Thank you very much for replying. I thought about going to the GP but not sure what they could do and worry I'd be wasting their time

Aw the poor thing! Have you tried talking through the nightmare fully and explaining that they are just very vivid dreams and won’t come true - that if he has one he can come and get you and not be afraid - but that it’s important he sleeps in his own bed so he’s well rested? Keep going with the evening wind down, hot milk, reading etc. I remember having awful dreams about aliens of all things! I used to sleep in my sisters bed until my mum and dad talked it through and explained that I had to sleep in my own bed and that it wasn’t really true etc.

Mine goes through phases of anxiety around bedtime and fears, and we’ve found listening to Guided meditation while falling asleep on has helped a lot. There’s a good one for kids on Spotify called New Horizons.

How about a worry monster? Or worry dolls? My DD was 8 when she was having nightmares and worrying about all sorts of things. The worry monster helped more so than the dolls. However shes almost 10 and was over this anxious period by the time she was 9. I wonder if 8 yrs is a period when children start to become more aware. I got the worry monster from amazon and a smallish one but not a key ring version. Good luck, hope it’s just a phase x

Thank you for the ideas. I've just ordered a worry monster. What do you play Spotify on? I don't have an iPod.
We've spoken about the dreams not being real etc but it's not helping.

How about giving him a hot drink at night like horlicks or something to maybe get him in the zone ?
I assume you've got like nightlights or something , I know that won't stop the nightmares but for comfort

You could always try the placebo effect and give him a dream catcher and tell him it will help protect him from the dreams he doesn't like

Just suggestions never had experience with this in particular ! Hope your boy is sleeping soundly soon x