Parenthood is a journey packed with love, joy, and occasional worries. As a new parent, one concern that might worry you at night is whether your precious little one can have bad dreams or nightmares. It\u2019s perfectly natural to wonder if scary dreams cause your baby\u2019s cries during sleep, and know that if this is one of your concerns, you are not alone. So can babies have nightmares?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No scientific evidence proves that babies, especially newborns, have bad dreams. Bad dreams are more typical from 2 years onwards, but some research suggests babies as young as six months can have nightmares. Another option in young babies is that they could be suffering from confusional arousal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There are multiple reasons why your baby might be showing signs of having had a bad dream, and therefore exploring the topic of babies and bad dreams, such as what signs to watch out for and practical tips on how to comfort your little one if they wake up from a nightmare is a good idea. This information can help you understand your baby better and how to comfort them when needed.<\/p>\n\n\n An essential thing to mention is that no scientific evidence answers the question: can newborns have nightmares? As they cannot tell us the problem in words, we cannot definitively say that they woke up crying because of a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n More often than not, newborns wake up crying or looking unhappy because they need something from us. This need could be that their diaper is full and needs to be changed, that they are hungry, or a sound they are not used to waking them up, and they are not too happy about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As parents, we must remember that our newborns are now in a world very different from where they started their lives. Sounds are much more precise and louder than in the womb, and things like wet nappies and bright lights are new. Being subjected to these changes can be upsetting and can cause our little ones to respond in the only way they can, to cry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your baby wakes up crying and looks unhappy, the best thing to do is go through the list of things that might have upset them. Are they hungry? Is their diaper wet? Do they maybe need some comfort from Mom or Dad?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice your baby crying or moaning with their eyes closed and not responding to you when you attempt to wake or reassure them, they may be suffering from confusional arousal<\/a>. Confusional arousal is similar to sleepwalking<\/a> and talking when someone is doing something that causes them to appear awake but still sleeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your baby does seem to be suffering from confusional arousal, it\u2019s best to comfort them but try not to wake them, as this can cause more confusion and upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know that it is likely not the case that newborn babies have nightmares, but that might make you wonder, do babies have nightmares as they get older? The consensus is that, although not common, babies can start having bad dreams at around six months old<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recognizing whether your baby is having a bad dream can be challenging, as they cannot express their feelings verbally. However, some signs may indicate your little one is experiencing a nightmare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Nightmares typically occur during the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep cycle. Signs of bad dreams include sudden crying, fussiness, restlessness, and waking up in fright. Observing your baby\u2019s behavior and looking for patterns over time is important to determine if bad dreams are recurring. If your baby has a nightmare, you should be able to soothe them enough to calm down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another aspect for you to be aware of is the difference between your baby having a nightmare and having a night terror. Night terrors<\/a> differ from nightmares and typically occur during the first third<\/a> of your baby\u2019s sleeping cycle. In these instances, your baby will remain fast asleep even though they are showing signs of distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Signs of night terrors include sitting up in bed but not responding to you, crying, flailing, screaming, or shouting, having a rapid heart rate, crawling or walking around aimlessly, and not waking up when spoken to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Night terrors can last for as long as 45 minutes, much longer than a nightmare. After the terror passes, your baby might not show any signs of having been in distress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We now know the answer to the vital question, can babies have bad dreams? We know that, yes, from around six months, they can. Learning ways to comfort them if they are frightened or upset due to a bad dream might be a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCan Babies Have Nightmares?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Do Babies Have Bad Dreams: Signs To Look Out For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Comfort Your Baby When They Wake Up From A Nightmare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n