Little 4-year-old Emily bolted upright in bed, tears streaming down her face. Another frightening dream had shattered a peaceful night’s sleep. If you’ve ever comforted a child after a nightmare, you know how real those fears can feel.

Nightmares are common, especially between ages 3 and 6. At this stage, children’s imaginations are flourishing, but they are also beginning to develop normal fears. Being overtired, experiencing stress or anxiety, irregular sleep schedules, illness with fever, or certain medications can all increase the likelihood of nightmares. While nightmares are usually a normal part of development, persistent or severe nightmares should be discussed with your pediatrician.

Nightmares often help children process difficult experiences such as starting school, moving, family conflict, the death of a loved one, or other significant changes. If your child begins having frequent nightmares, consider what may be happening in his or her daily life.

Here are a few ways you can help:

1. Create a sense of safety. A dim nightlight and an open bedroom door can reassure a fearful child without disrupting sleep.
2. Offer comfort. When your child wakes frightened, stay calm. Hold, cuddle, reassure, and speak gently. Your calm presence helps your child’s nervous system settle.
3. Give reassurance, not prolonged investigation. A quick look under the bed or in the closet may ease fears, but avoid lengthy “monster hunts,” which can unintentionally reinforce the fear.
4. Provide a comfort object. A favorite blanket or stuffed animal can offer familiarity and security during the night.
5. Protect healthy sleep habits. Consistent bedtimes, age-appropriate naps, and a calming bedtime routine reduce overtiredness, a common trigger for nightmares. End the day with positive stories rather than stimulating or frightening content.
6. Watch media carefully. Young children can be deeply affected by scary movies, videos, news reports, or even movie trailers. I still remember how long it took me to recover from the flying monkeys in The Wizard of Oz!
7. Teach your child about dreams. Explain that dreams are stories our brains create while we sleep. Encourage your child to imagine a different, happy ending to the scary dream. This simple technique can reduce fear and increase a child’s sense of control.
8. Pray together. Before bedtime, thank God for His love and ask Him to give your child peaceful sleep. Remind your child that the Lord is always with them, even in the dark. Psalm 4:8 offers wonderful reassurance: “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (ESV)

One final tip: Resist making it a habit for your child to sleep in your bed after every nightmare. Instead, comfort your child in his or her own room until calm. This helps build confidence that their own bed is a safe place to sleep.