Although nightmares may seem like a grown-up thing, the truth is that Babies can also suffer from them for different reasons. It is not something usual, since the normal thing is that the nigthmares appear from 3 years of age. But it is possible that a baby under 2 years old suffers nightmares and that because of them, his sleep is not restorative or necessary at this age.
Do you want to know what they are the causes of nightmares in babies and what you can do to avoid them?
What are nightmares?
Nightmares are unpleasant dreams that occur in REM, that is, the lightest part of sleep that usually occurs in the second half of sleep at night. These ugly dreams produce fear and anxiety in the child, leading to awakening night.
This type of terrifying reverie for the baby, can last several minutes what for the little one it can be an eternity. Nightmares usually affect babies from the age of two, at which point the child begins to be aware of his environment, although the main cause is the difficulty of differentiating what is reality and what is fiction.
When a baby has a nightmare, the reaction is sudden awakening, with tears and anguish at the unknown fear and the child is able to remember the dream. Although in the younger ages, the baby will not be able to verbalize the nightmare, since it may not yet have begun to speak.
What are the causes
It is difficult to think that a baby could have worries that lead to nightmares, but the reality is that the environment itself is usually the cause of this problem. Night dreams are usually reproductions of situations experienced during the day, whether they are real or fictional situations.
In babies, the causes of nightmares may be associated with problems such as:
- Genetic inheritance
- Traumas associated with separation from parents, traumatic situations, repeated fights or the death of a family member
- Various disorders such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or bipolar disorder
Although the most common is that nightmares are caused by more general reasons such as noises from certain appliances or violent scenes on television
How to prevent the baby from having nightmares
Sleep is restful and it is not uncommon to hear pediatricians say that sleep feeds, especially in very young babies. Thus, it is essential that you take extreme care of your day around sleep of your child, so that in this way, the baby can enjoy a calm and comforting sleep.
For prevent your baby from having nightmaresYou should include sleep routines that help the little one to sleep well.
- Create a sleep routine: The routines they are essential for children, they help them to anticipate what is to come and in this way they feel more secure. The sleep routine is one of the most important of the day, since if it is established correctly, the child will be able to rest better and you yourself will be able to benefit of this break. This routine It should start with bath time and dinner, which should be done in a relaxed environment, without loud noises.
- Avoid violent scenes on television: Not only on television, mobile devices are full of scenes inappropriate for children, in commercials, in music videos etc. Try to remove any of these devices once your sleep routine begins.
- Create an environment of stability for the little one: There is no greater peace of mind than living in a stable, calm and happy environment, even for babies. Avoid arguing in front of childrenSince, even if they are babies and you think they do not know, gestures and screams greatly affect the emotional health of children.
Nightmares are common in children, however, if they are very recurrent or happen frequently, affect the emotional stability of the child or suffer seizures, Go to the pediatrician so that the specialist can assess the situation.