Health Tip: Calming a Child After a Nightmare

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Many parents wonder what to do when their children wake up screaming after a nightmare.

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests:

• Quickly go to your child’s room and offer reassurance that you are there for protection.
• Talk to your child about what happened during the dream, but explain that dreams are not real.
• Leave a light on in your child’s room if it provides comfort, but help your child get back to sleep.
• If possible, eliminate anything in the room that your child finds frightening, such as something that casts a shadow.

Source: HealthDay

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