Noah has been awakened by bad dreams on and off for the past few months. When he does this, you can clearly tell he is not fully awake but is really bothered by his dreams. They have always been about animals.
One particular day the kids and I were playing outside and a stray dog came into our front yard. It was very apparent that it scared Noah. That night he awoke having a bad dream and talking about that dog getting him.
We were at the zoo a few weeks ago and he loved looking at the tiger, but now he talks about the tiger every night. On one occasion, I woke up to him running through the house thinking birds were chasing him. Don't laugh.
He is wanting to sleep with us all the time.
Noah has always been a really great sleeper so it's pretty exhausting lately when it takes almost an hour to get him to sleep. We've talked to him and tried to explain things. We have prayed for him, over him and over his room and bed. We have tried a night light, altering our bedtime routine, reassuring him and letting him cry it out. I just feel like we have tried everything and nothing has appeased his sleepy-time anxieties.
I know I have shared my struggles with fear in the past and lately I have wondered if my sin is carrying onto my offspring. I have spent hours praying against this, especially recently, yet I watch my two year old wake up in a panic some nights. I didn't really want to admit this, but I felt that to clearly give you a picture of what has gone on I needed to share my own burden in the situation.
If anyone has advice or ideas, I am all ears.
I believe that this is just a season, yet I want to do the best, most effective thing for Noah. There is no doubt in my mind that the Lord cares for Noah's dreams and is bigger than any fear he may be carrying so I all prayers for him are welcome!
15 comments:
When I was younger and even into elementry school I had horrible problems with dreams. It got to a point where I would not stay the night with anyone, I had to be at home with my dad. I am not sure what ever broke me of this...but I will find out. I remember going and talking to my preacher at the time just for reassurance, but of course I was older than Noah is now. Honestly, I still vividly remember all my dreams at night and I still have problems forgetting them. Hang in there.
Have Noah take command over his fears and tell them to go away. Every time he gets scared comfort him and have him say that God has not given him the fear, but a clear mind. Whatever he would be able to understand. We had to do this, and eventually our kid was not scared and going around saying no fear.
Ashley we have had this same problem. Ours is always the same thing though. It's always bugs. He literally thinks there are bugs in his bed. I know it's horrible b/c he has also, for about 2 months now, been waking up randomly at night crying and too not fully awake. We have done the same thing telling him, showing him, praying over his room our house, him and it will work for a week or so then he is doing it again. I read the other day that they are at the exact age to start having these types of nightmares and it's usually about animals or monsters. They said that showing them that they are not there does not work b/c they beleive what they saw and the child just thinks that you don't see it. It just recommended comforting them and said they would grow out of it. I dont know if Noah listen's to music at night but the only that we have found that comforts Breckin to go back to sleep is turning on his praise baby CD and he is usually back asleep in 15 minutes. Good luck! I know it's frustrating because you don't want them to have to feel fearful like that. I too have always struggled with fear. I have been healed of the crippling fear that used to rule me but I know sometimes it creeps back in and I too have wondered if I am the breeding ground for what Breckin is fighting. I will be praying for you and for wisdom in this situation b/c it's very difficult to see your child that way...
we have experienced this alot with matthew!! it is usually when he is overly tired or isn't feeling good. when he is talking in his sleep the best thing i have discovered is just to talk to him like we are in that situation instead of trying to wake him up-then lay him down! i have prayed for him, over him, knelt at his bed before i put him down & just pray for a peaceful night for him. i also have reminded him over & over that any time he is scared Jesus is ALWAYS with him! i will be praying with you for noah & praying for wisdom for you!
mary katherine
Thank you all! More than anything, it helps to know that we aren't alone in facing this. I appreciate ALL of your wisdom and prayers.
I followed the Cardboard Testimony from Kimberly's blog at Planting of the Lord.
My daughter has night terrors as well - I make sure she doesn't eat any dairy at least an hour before she goes to bed, and then we wake her (just barely) right before we go to bed. That is supposed to break their REM cycle and put them into a deeper sleep. She is outgrowing them, she's 7 now. She never wakes completely out of a night terror and she occasionally remembers them the next morning.
When she does have a night terror, DH and I try to wake her and we pray over her for peace and restorative sleep.
Thanks for sharing the Cardboard Testimony.
Jude 2,
Emily
Ashley...
My name is Penny Rodgers and Ashley Black was in our student ministry when you two were in high school.
First of all, I know how scary it is to have your young child wake up screaming. My son, Caed, who is six, started having nightmares around the age of 2. They were the same type of dreams Noah is having. They mostly consisted of a scary animal or some imagined monster. We live in a two-story house and he still won't be up or down-stairs by himself! We've reinforced over and over that Jesus is always with him and that nothing would ever harm him but he's still scared. I do believe that children eventually grow out of these stages because their sense of reality changes. Our job as parents is to just pray that we can be patient and loving with our children during these stages.
My daughter on the other hand has been diagnosed with night terrors! They are totally different than nightMARES! Baylor, who is 3, sometimes wakes up at night screaming at the top of her lungs! Like the worst scream you've ever heard! After an episode that lastest more than twenty minutes we decided to seek medical advice. We were scared to death. She screamed, kicked, and hit us. We could not calm her down. It was like she was another person. She never acted scared, she acted like she was mad at something. Then almost instantly, she calmed down and went right back to sleep like nothing had happened. The next morning she didn't remember anything! We were so confused. How could she have not remembered that! The doctor diagnosed her with night terrors. He told us that mostly young children have them and most of them will eventually grow out it. Baylor was a classic case. He described how most children with night terrors will be unconsolable and usually not remember what happened. He said most parents are more upset about the ordeal than the child. I've come to find that she has them when she is tired or hasn't had a nap in the afternoon.
Sorry this is so long, I just wanted to share what we have dealt with concerning this issue. I'll be praying for Noah, you, and your husband! May God bless your family and your ministry!
I will certainly be lifting Noah up to the Lord. I ask the Lord to bind up the enemy in the His name and put a hedge of protection around Noah's mind and sleep and heart.
My children have not experienced any yet, but one thing I wouldn't do is let him cry it out. You don't want him to be afraid, so try laying with him in his bed instead of letting him get in your bed.
I hope things get better. I'll be praying!
Maddie had night terrors - the unconsolable screaming, hitting kind. We never really knew what they were about, but she would scream for Mommy over and over even when I was holding her. She eventually outgrew these. Now, she has nightmares about monsters and we have tried everything, but the thing that works best is to give her a spray bottle with water that we call "monster spray" and if she wakes up, she can "spray" them and they will go away. It has become an important part of bedtime. Good luck.
We have already gone through this as well. Speaking from a child develoment stand point, it is a stage that most all children go through. Around this tender age children "learn fear." Music also helped our lil' man and a lot of comforting. It just takes time. Right before it passed, Trey even went through a few weeks of comming to our room and crawling into bed with us. Now, he will just cry or call for us and then he will let me sing and rock him back to sleep. I pray over my babies and sing to them every night now and that consistant routine has helped a lot. ~Blessings
Hi Ashley!
I came across your blog (and I have really enjoyed it by the way!) and noticed this post and just wanted to offer a little suggestion that works for our family. When I was younger and had a bad dream my mom put my Bible under my pillow. I still do this! Also, it helps our five year old son as well. We pray and he sleeps with his Bible under his pillow every night. It works for us! Just a suggestion! Take care - Heather (Bonner) Ladd
Hi Ashley!
I came across your blog (and I have really enjoyed it by the way!) and noticed this post and just wanted to offer a little suggestion that works for our family. When I was younger and had a bad dream my mom put my Bible under my pillow. I still do this! Also, it helps our five year old son as well. We pray and he sleeps with his Bible under his pillow every night. It works for us! Just a suggestion! Take care - Heather (Bonner) Ladd
Thank you all! From these comments to the emails I have received from people, we have some great, tangible ways to help Noah. I let you know how everything pans out. Thanks again!
I don't know about them yet, I hope I never have to, but i will tell you I know it's a common thing and I will be praying for sweet Noah, and your family. We have our own sleep issues on our side of the world, so i somewhat understand. It's so hard when you want to help those little darlings and they just don't know trust mommy and daddy enough to let go... must be how the Lord feels with us sometimes!
Blessings
Keri
Ashley. Hi there! My husband and I went to school with Brad and I love checking in on you guys from time to time. First and foremost, you have a beautiful family! On the night terrors...I had those growing up as well and are really scary for your poor little one. I remember one night my mom kissed my forehead and told me to dream about all of The Carebear's (as that was my favorite cartoon not to mention my favorite stuffed animal). That night I didn't have a night terror, I had a dream of the cuddly little Carebear's. Now they didn't go away from then on, but a nice break that was probably much needed for both me and my parents. Maybe Noah has something that he loves that you can mention to him before bed. Just a thought! I will keep you and your family in my prayers! - Brandi
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