How to Calm a Child Who Is Having a Nightmare

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Persistent nightmares could mean that your child is feeling stressed or worried about something – like starting preschool or being potty-trained. Help your child to deal with whatever is bothering him and you’ll both sleep tight.

Step 1: Go to your child
Go to your child as soon as you hear him calling. Hold him close. Tell him, over and over if necessary and in a reassuring tone of voice, 'Mommy’s here,' or 'Mommy and Daddy are here.'

Step 2: Tread lightly
Don’t push him to tell you about the nightmare; he may get upset all over again. But if he wants to talk about it, listen sympathetically.

Tip
Bad dreams are especially scary for kids under five, who can’t tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.

Step 3: Sweep the room
If he’s worried about something in his room – a monster in the closet, a dragon under his bed – get rid of the beast by sweeping under the bed and then spritzing the room with a water bottle marked 'Anti-Monster Spray.'

Step 4: Give him something to cuddle with
Give him something to cuddle with.

Step 5: Wait until he’s asleep
Turn on a nightlight or give your child a flashlight to keep by his side. Once your child is calm, stay with him until he goes back to sleep, or is close to drifting off.

Tip
Don’t offer to sleep alongside him, and don’t invite him into your bed. You’ll just start a bad habit that will become a nightmare for you.

Step 6: Avoid scary images before bedtime
To keep the nightmares at bay in the future, don’t expose your child to scary images—before bedtime. Establish a calming and regular bedtime routine.

Did You Know?
Nightmares usually occur during the last third of sleep – known as REM sleep – which is when you're most likely to dream.