Need Help with My Sons Nightmares......

Is there something different he's started eating or drinking before going to bed. Foods can trigger bad dreams. I can't eat Braum's chocolate ice cream before bed because it gives me nightmares. (bummer...) My 5 year old nephew also had problems with nightmares. This may sound odd but my sister got him a real Indian dream catcher & now he doesn't have nightmares. They shake it out (outside) every once in awhile, to get rid of the bad dreams. It may sound like vodo, but it's really worked for him. Good luck!

This is what I've done with my 3 year old who is afraid of monsters and bugs. Maybe you could adapt it somehow for your son. We got my daughter a bug vacuum (Target) that also vacuums "bad" monsters(who are invisible). We got her a "good" monster puppet to play with. The monster obsession has tapered off. Maybe you could get him a special toy or doll that wards off bad dreams. A dream catcher isn't a bad idea. Show him how to name his monsters by getting him talking about what makes him feel small, helpless or scared, you might get to the bottom of a situation he's having a hard time with. If he understands that the monsters come from what's bothering him in waking life (just like all our monsters) and that he can solve these problems, the nightmares will fade away.

Will your son talk about his nightmares? It is a little strange for a child that age to be having that sever of nightmares. You need to find out if there is a stress in his life that he is not being able to share with you. Does he go to school and if so, you need to talk to his teachers and anyone else he is in contact with and find out if there are any problems?
A 6 yr old will have nightmares but not this severe and this frequent without a reason.

I agree, night terros are very common, esp with kids. And staying up for 3-4 hours are often one of the key signs. It is usally caused by stress or an emotinal problem. It often is a problem if it last more than six months (or as you say starts to interfer with his day time routine). Medication is an option. I would talk to your doc. But the good news is often times kids do grow out of them.
good luck J.

Is there anything going on that would give him nightmares? A movie he caught only part of that was scary? Or the thought that something is going to happen to him/you/the family? I would try seeing what the problem is. I always try to reassure my girls that I would never let anything happen to them and that I'll always be there for them when they have one. I also put up a dream catcher in their window. I've always heard the indian tale behind them and had one for looks. But the fact the kids believe they actually work is good enough to me. If they believe in it and think they don't have bad dreams I'll keep it up. Sometimes belief is what makes a difference.

I would check in to getting him a sedative. If you're not ready for that then try massaging him while listening to soft uplifting music immediately afterward.

I would also make it clear that although his dreams were very frieghtening he must stay in bed and as close to sleeping conditions as possible so he can function at school the next day.

Does he remember what their about? Is something streesful happening in his life or your lives? My first suggestion is to talk ot him about it as much as possible and see if there is an obvious reason for the bad dreams.
My second suggestion is going to sound weird to some people. I am a big fan of the psychic Sylvia Browne. Even if you don't believe in stuff like that you might want to give this a try anyway, you might be surprised. While your child is sleeping, or if you want before he goes to sleep you can do this with his particiaption, imagine a bright, pure, white light surrounding him then say, "May all the joy, wisdom, and lessons of your past lives be your constant companions to help you through this life. But let all of the pain, fear, illness and negativity form those lives be released forever into the lealing purity of the Holy Spirit's sacred white light."
I say something a little shorter, you can change it up to suit your needs. Like I said, it may seem a little weird, but you'd be surprised how it works.

My 6 year old daughter has night terrors. That may be what your child is having. I would talk to your doctor about it, we did and he gave a very mild sleeping pill to take and she does really well.

My oldest son had night terrors, but I never took him to the doctor...(I didn't know there was anything they could do about it). He would go to bed around 8:00, and around 11:00 he would wake up screaming....so I started going in around 10:30 and waking him up just enough to stop the REM cycle, and sit with him for a little while telling him about good things (going outside to play, smelling the flowers, going to a birthday party, etc.) He would then go back to sleep and sleep all night long without anymore terrors. This lasted about 4 months, and he hasn't had them since....He never could tell me what the bad dreams were about, but they started after he saw Scooby Doo 2 in the theater....maybe something has scared your son....something that even he doesn't realize has scared him. Hope this helps.