Are these nightmares or not?

[Shouldnotwouldnot]

2.5 year old is suddenly waking multiple times in the night. She’s slept through from a few months and never woken but now she’s having nights where she can wake crying out 10 times over a few hour period. At first I thought it was bad dreams as she kept going on about dragons but now I’m not so sure that she’s not just waking up for a bit of company.

I’m not sure what to do - should I leave her to cry a bit? But if it is nightmares will this damage her! Also if it is why is she having so many!!

We’re so tired as are constantly awake for 3 or more hours a night. She’s exhausted too

That prolonged half-asleep-upset isn't typical of bad dreams.

Difficulty in getting into a deep sleep like this can be restlessness due to overtiredness. Maybe try earlier nights?

Thanks Fate she goes to bed by 7:30 and gets up around 7 and has a nap too so not sure we can get anymore sleep in her - even now she often rolls around until after 8pm....

Has she recently toilet trained? Awearness of needing/doing a wee can disrupt sleep.

Could she be too cold? Maybe try adding socks and fluffy pajamas.

Does she go to sleep on her own?

No, that’s after Xmas!

Definitely not cold as temp is around 20-21 and she’s in a grobag.

Yes she goes to sleep on her own. She’s always self settled in the past. I’d say before the last few weeks she’s literally only ever woken up in the night a handful of times in total. It started with suddenly being afraid of the dark so we got a nightlight. Then she kept asking about Dragons and still does every day but last night (one of her worst) she didn’t mention it.

She cries hysterically, as soon as we go in she calms down and lays down again and we can leave her awake to go to sleep on her own. But then it repeats 20 mins later....

It’s not every night but it’s getting to be that way

Being afraid of the dark has come on quite suddenly and unexpectedly with my children too. We found that a night light firstly didn't provide dough light. Then also, because it was low down also made some scarey looking shadows. Our solution was to change bedroom light switches for dimmer switches then leave the overhead light on all night, but dimmed down.