Nightmares?

[Michele]

Kai (3) is having them now. Daegan (5) still has them occasionally. Kai wakes up crying in the middle of the night, talking about people getting him, or something hurting him etc. Poor kid!

My bed is crowded! And all three kids are trying to touch me while sleeping.

Is there anything I can do to help ease their sleep?

[diggitydot]

Nope. It's a phase that they'll eventually work through. DS is 9 and will stil occasionally have a few nights in a row where he has dreams that freak him out enough to need to come in with us.

[Deebs]

Michele - We have gone through this phase with our kids. For DD #1 "monster spray" worked wonders (I basically bought room spray and told her all about its magic powers). In your case, I would talk to your counselor about it. Your kids are under a lot of stress and change. I think it's flared up every time we've moved. Also, maybe think about setting up a spot in your room - sleeping bag and pillow next to your bed or something similar - so that they are with you, but not in your bed. When I'm exhausted, I'll do this. I still put the kids in their beds to start, but when they come in, I tell them they can only stay if they sleep on the spot on the floor (which is cozy and comfortable - I'm not as mean a mom as this sounds).

[spotty_dog]

Those development books that Pollyanna recommended, mention that 5 is a typical age for "chase" nightmares. DS woke up last night with a yell (maybe we shouldn't have watched that nature film about tigers!)

Right now on PBSkids.org there's an episode of Sid the Science Kid about getting over fear of the dark. DS watched that and immediately said, "I'm not afraid of the dark any more, because I know it's just the same but with less light!" It was pretty amazing.

DD wakes more during the night if she gets to bed late, and she always wakes screeching. Last night her leg hurt -- I was actually thinking growing pains? I don't think it was a muscle cramp, her muscles didn't feel tight and she was moving the leg all around, just screaming about it.

My kids also have nightmares and crawl into our bed. I let them stay there for about 10 minutes or so while we talk about the nightmare, but then they sleep on the floor with blankets and pillows. If I"m not well rested, they get a crabby mother in the morning and that doesn't make anyone happy. I"m sorry you're going through this! I remember nightmares as a kid. They were scary!

[scarlett09]

Michele, I really hope that this is just a phase and that the nightmares become more irregular. I wish I had advice about keeping everyone asleep so that you can get some sleep!

:slight hijack:

So am I the only one still having nightmares as an adult?

They are either really scary (like falling or being chased by dinosaurs) or incredibly realistic (last night's involved being enraged at my mother; I startled myself awake and was drenched in sweat). I've always had dreams like this, there hasn't been any cessation since I was a kid. I would sometimes crawl into bed with a parent, but usually I could soothe myself back to sleep. Sometimes I wake up DH if I'm really upset and need to be held. Our kids are going to have dreams that range somewhere between crazy (me) and nonexistant (DH). I hope they trend towards the latter.

[Thirteen]

:slight hijack:

So am I the only one still having nightmares as an adult?

They are either really scary (like falling or being chased by dinosaurs) or incredibly realistic (last night's involved being enraged at my mother; I startled myself awake and was drenched in sweat). I've always had dreams like this, there hasn't been any cessation since I was a kid. I would sometimes crawl into bed with a parent, but usually I could soothe myself back to sleep. Sometimes I wake up DH if I'm really upset and need to be held. Our kids are going to have dreams that range somewhere between crazy (me) and nonexistant (DH). I hope they trend towards the latter.

You aren't alone. Most of my friends think it's a gift. I agree, except when mine are scary... My latest was that Bean died from leukemia, and I woke myself up crying.
DH never remembers his.


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[Michele]

I still have nightmares. And Russ never remembers his dreams.

Looks like my kids took after me.

[scarlett09]

I still have nightmares. And Russ never remembers his dreams.

Looks like my kids took after me.

I think the jury is still out on your kids taking after you in this department, they're still really young. I'm betting it's just a phase, especially since Russ doesn't remember anything of his dreams.

Interesting that there are other couples who have the same pattern with regard to dreams. I always thought it was odd that DH never remembers anything from his.

I can see how your friends think its a gift, that its another part of an active imagination (which is how I like to think of it). The other night I had a dream where in part of it I met two guys named Gary and Patrick. I swear this came from the fact that I watched SpongeBob that day! But it isn't always a gift if you have dreams like the one about your little Bean.

[corn poffi]

I have nightmares all the time. I am terrible at sleeping. I have them at least once a week. :-/

[scarlett09]

M, how did K do last night (and tonight I guess)? I hope you were able to get some good sleep as well!

[v-girl]

I still get them. Some very real (and creepy). Some just flat out weird (being hunted by a giant sloth - DH & the kids still tease me about that one).

[Michele]

Mon night he was up at 11, 2 and 4:30 for the day. (D was up at 3).

Last night he slept through! Woke at 5am. (D is still asleep!)

[GreyhoundsRUs]

Mon night he was up at 11, 2 and 4:30 for the day. (D was up at 3).

Last night he slept through! Woke at 5am. (D is still asleep!)

I hope you feel a little refreshed!

[Michele]

I do feel a little better. A couple more nights like this and I can be back to 100%!