Bad dreams can wreak havoc in any family home, especially when it involves your child ending up in your bed instead of their own. I can imagine how incredibly difficult it must be for you as a parent, to comfort your child while you are tired and confused at 1am too.
Some immediate tips: bedtime routine and consistency in actual bed times will do your child the world of good. What is your bedtime routine? These are 4/5 steps you always complete in the same order before your child goes to sleep: bath, dinner, brush teeth, story time and a good night kiss.
This provides stability for your child and a sequence of events that let your child know it’s time to go to sleep. Keep a night light on and your bedtime routine will help cut the bad dreams short. Let your child know you are there with them, and allow them the chance to tell you what was scary about the bad dream. Let them know they are safe and that you will check on them every 10 minutes until they fall asleep. This can be very comforting for your little one, and they will go back to sleep much sooner because of you sticking to a known and safe plan.
