A nightmare is a scary or upsetting dream that usually wakes a person up. It's normal for kids to have nightmares occasionally. You can't completely prevent nightmares, but you can help make them less likely. And if your child does have one, you can comfort them and help them get back to sleep.  

• When your child wakes from a nightmare:
  • Calmly comfort them with a hug and a quiet voice.
  • Tell your child that the nightmare is over and the things that happened in it weren't real.
  • Don't spend a lot of time talking with your child about the details of the nightmare, as this can increase fear. Tell your child you can talk about it more in the morning if they still want to.
  • Help your child go back to sleep. Depending on your child's age, you can offer a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, turn on a nightlight, play soft music, or talk about nice dreams your child would like to have.
• Stress can lead to nightmares. To help your child manage stress during the day, have them:
  • Avoid scary or stressful movies, social media, and video games.
  • Avoid doing too many activities or sports. Kids need downtime to relax and recharge.
  • Do activities or sports that they enjoy.
  • Get plenty of physical activity.
• Not getting enough sleep can lead to nightmares. To help your child get a good night's sleep, help them:
  • Keep a regular bedtime and wake-up time.
  • Get about 10–13 hours of sleep daily (including naps) if under 6 years old and 9–12 hours of sleep each night if older.
  • Have a relaxing nightly bedtime routine and avoid high-energy activities just before bed.
  • Avoid scary movies, TV shows, and stories before bed.
  • Avoid screentime before bed.
  • Avoid caffeine (found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and sodas), which can disturb sleep.
• Check with your health care provider before giving your child any medicines, as some can cause nightmares.
• Drugs and alcohol can cause nightmares. Talk to your teen about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

Your child:

• has nightmares more than about once a week
• is afraid to go to sleep because of the nightmares
• is tired and groggy during the day
• seems upset, nervous, or angry during the day
• has behavior problems at home, at school, or with friends

What happens during a nightmare? There are several different stages of sleep. One is the REM (rapid eye movement) stage. Most people have several REM stages each night. Nightmares usually happen during the later part of a night's sleep, which is when REM stages are longer.

At what age are nightmares most common? Nightmares tend to happen most often in the preschool years, but people of all ages can get them. Usually, kids have fewer nightmares by the time they're teens.