From the year number 1, the child can emit screams and crying while he sleeps deeply. It’s either fear, night terrors or nightmares, but in all cases, it is always sad for the parents. It was not until 3 years as the child begins to perceive the difference between dream and reality, between his life and his imagination. He gradually discovers that nightmares are dreams and that he actually in no risks at all.
Night terrors and nightmares are normal sleep episodes that don’t have to worry about. They correspond to a normal stage of "brain maturation" and help to express some anxiety that the child feels as disturbing or dangerous, but the problem is that he actually is unable to translate what happens to them.
But they are often also at important stages of their life as the entry to kindergarten, the birth of a brother or sister, a change from the guardian, changing of the father, the death of a family member. All these anxieties, restrict the child at night. This becomes a problem if they are very frequent (almost every night) and for several months. If this is the case, go and get special help.
Other children, in their sleep, they move (somnambulism, grind their teeth (bruxism) or speak. Generally, it happens to several members of the same family and eventually settled in adolescence. If this happens more and more again then this is not serious. But if these periods extent, it is best to consult.
Types of sleep disorders
From the year number 1 the child can emit screams and crying while he sleeps deeply. It’s either fear, night terrors or nightmares, but in all cases, it is always sad for the parents. It was not until 3 years as the child begins to perceive the difference between dream and reality, between his life and his imagination. He gradually discovers that nightmares are dreams and that he actually in no risks at all.
Night terrors and nightmares are normal sleep episodes that don’t have to worry about. They correspond to a normal stage of "brain maturation" and help to express some anxiety that the child feels as disturbing or dangerous, but the problem is that he actually is unable to translate what happens to them.
But they are often also at important stages of their life as the entry to kindergarten, the birth of a brother or sister, a change from the guardian, changing of the father, the death of a family member. All these anxieties, restrict the child at night. This becomes a problem if they are very frequent (almost every night) and for several months. If this is the case, go and get special help.
Other children, in their sleep, they move (somnambulism, grind their teeth (bruxism) or speak. Generally, it happens to several members of the same family and eventually settled in adolescence. If this happens more and more again then this is not serious. But if these periods extent, it is best to consult.
The fears
While the newborn is frightened by the noise and sudden movements, that child is afraid of being separated from his mother and feared the foreigners, the child of 2 years has fears related to his rampant imagination. They are common and perfectly normal. From 2 to 4 years, he began to fear the big animals (wolves, dogs, snakes) and darkness. From 4 to 6 years the child still has the fear of the ghosts or the monsters and sometimes from the small animals such as mice, spiders, insects… Up to 5 years the child also appears to fear death and injuries. However, it has not yet the same meaning as for adults.
Some parents believe that television or books are solely responsible for these fears. Indeed, fears are present in all children, regardless of time and civilization.
Sometimes the fears are spontaneous. And other times they are ‘suggested ‘. They then reflect fears that parents have passed on to their offspring. In all cases, they are a normal stage in the development of the child and a form of defense against the unknown. They become problematic when they accompany anxiety. They occur by difficulty in falling asleep, and the crying with no reason, etc…
Winning strategies
Do not scold your child and don’t laugh at him: even if fears are silly because this is real and important for him and you will manage to reassure him that will result in adopting a calm and loving attitude. To success to dominate the situation try to name their fears and talk.. Urge to express them in a drawing or a DIY or even a game through his small characters. In his game, he will become an imaginary Knight who has no more fear! The child thus feels that they regain control of the situation
Prepare small tools that he can use when he’s afraid: a small pilot, or a small flashlight that could be kept in his bed, or a reassuring Doggie that makes music. Also, teach him to breathe deeply when it starts to be afraid. Finally, if that can reassure him, sing a nursery rhyme of protection or even to inspect his room to prove that there is no imaginary creature: check under the bed, close the Windows, open the cupboards. But have too much air to believe yourself, otherwise, you will not succeed in the idea that he has a reason to be afraid.
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