BUPA helps prevent children's nightmares this Halloween

28 October 2002

BUPA is giving parents top tips to ensure children have ahealthy - nightmare free - sleep this Halloween.

Dr Sally Cubbin, BUPA associate medical director explains:"Nightmares are a normal part of growing up and are often caused by afrightening experience or by times of stress and anxiety. Something likeHalloween could be a trigger.

Usually all that is needed to settle your child to sleepagain is a cuddle and reassurance. Stay close to them and offer comfort untilthey feel safe enough to drift back off to sleep." Advises Dr Cubbin.

BUPA suggests the following to help children sleepsoundly:

Monitor children's viewing of TV and computer games, asmore often than not, these are to blame for nightmares.

Children can have vivid imaginations. This may cause themto be afraid of the dark or imagine that ghosts and monsters are hiding intheir room. A night-light in the bedroom can often help overcome these fears.

Stories that can help children articulate their own fears,for example The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson, may bringcomfort, helping them to realise that they are not the only one that getsscared at night.

Try to make time to listen to children's worries duringthe day. One way to identify the root of a problem is to encourage them to drawa picture of the nightmare. You can then discuss their feelings andexperiences.

One of the most successful ways to combat children's sleepproblems is to establish a regular, relaxing bedtime regime as Dr Cubbinexplains: "Children like routine as it evokes a sense of security. It isimportant to make time for the same routine each night, whether it is a bathand then a bedtime story or a sing-along and a story tape."

It is possible that at some point while growing up a childmay experience a night terror. Although they are rare, occurring in only threeper cent of children, they are still very alarming for parents. A childexperiencing a night terror will appear to be awake, seem terrified, staring into space and possibly muttering indistinctly. The child is not actually awakeand although instinct will urge parents to comfort the child, he/she will calmdown and return to sleep if left alone. Although it seems disturbing at thetime parents will find that the child will wake in the morning withoutremembering the event. Night terrors increase at times of stress but inisolation they do not indicate emotional problems. They are more common in boysand children usually grow out of them fairly quickly.

More information about children's sleep, as well as a widerange of health information, can be found at www.bupa.comor by calling 0800 00 10 10.