Bad dreams, night terrors? How to deal with their fear?

[bodiddly]

My ds, who is 2.5, woke up at 9pm last night screaming his little heart out as he thought he could see a pig in his cot (probably brought on by a trip to the farm yesterday)and this evening, although he went down without any problem, within 5 minutes of being in bed he started crying as he thought he saw hedgehogs in his room. He refused to settle back down on both occasions ... last night he fell asleep on our bed and we put him back in his cot and this evening we have moved him into his new bed in his new room and had to sit with him for about an hour until he fell asleep! I am sure it has been triggered by the blinds flapping in the wind and shadows in the room but he really is petrified and will not settle on his own. Has anyone else had this problem ... and how did you get past it? Any advice gratefully received!

How about a night light??

I'd just talk through anything thats worrying him. Casually chat about the farm and mention that the animals stay there all the time etc.

I'd also peg his curtains/blinds so they dont flap. Or shut his window till he's past this phase.

I think a night light sounds like a good idea .. .its just as well we were trying to get him into his new room anyway as I dont think I will be able to persuade him to go back into the old one .. he is just too freaked!

We have got a similar kind of problem with DD who is 7, she has never been a fan of any kind of animals esp cats and dogs. Suddenly when its bed time she panics big time, thinking that things are coming off her wall, coming through her windows etc.

tonight we took her upstairs and told her to choose her most scariest teddies and sat a few at her door and on her window sill facing out. So far it has worked, she hasnt cried or come down, so touch wood we should be in for a peaceful night.

Not sure if a 2.5 yr old would comprehend teddies to scare off unwanted thoughts. All I can advise is hopefully its a phase and if you stay strong and patient he should come through quickly.

I told him that the rabbit he takes to bed with him every night is a special rabbit that keeps other things/animals away and looks after him .... but he wasnt convinced .. I think his fear was too great! I would have him in with us but I dont really want to start something as he is good at going to bed on his own etc ... and I dont sleep a wink when he is with us!

we found that a 'dream catcher' worked for DS (then 5).
I think they are supposed to be hung above the bed from the ceiling but DS's one sits on Winnie the Poohs's hand and DS even now will most nights talk to the dream catcher before he goes to bed and ask him to catch any bad dreams, bad people etc and just keep 'all the good stuff' around DS.

Bit gimicky I know but it did work so who cares

where did you get the dream catcher mckenzie? I like the idea of that - if I could get him to calm down enough to understand it that is!

DS was given his by a friend who had outgrown it but I had been about to buy him one from www.purplepuffin.co.uk.
I've also seen them in a large garden centre and a kit to make one of your own in a handicraft shop.

thanks .. I think I will see how the next couple of nights go and either get the dream catcher or a night light at the weekend if we are still having problems. At least this may ease the transition from cot to bed and into his new room! Although I may not say that if he wakes up wondering where he is tonight!

ditto the dream catcher, it work wonders with ds1 when he was 3/4 yrs and he still uses it now !!(hes now 8)you can hear him shaking it out of his window, as it has little chimes on the bottom
i got him one from a kind of new age/hippy type shop. take him and get him to pick one out he likes,