You may also want to show your child there are no monsters under the bed or hiding in the closet. But it's still something worth saying, since children this age are ready to start learning that nightmares aren't real. Console him verbally, but remember that 'it's only a dream' might not be much help, as your child is just beginning to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. Let him tell you about the nightmare if he wants to, but don't press it. If you bring your child into your bed to comfort him, be aware you could be creating a habit that's hard to reverse.

Physical reassurance is important, so hug him or rub his back until he calms down.

For a child working through his feelings about these stressful events, nightmares are a normal response, and you're not a bad parent if your child has them. Many things can cause stress – and nightmares – for a 2- to 4-year-old, from toilet training to moving to a big-kid bed, changes in childcare or at preschool, or a parent's layoff from work. Your child's nightmares may stem from listening to a story that's scary (even if it doesn't seem scary to you), watching an upsetting program or movie, getting excited or worked up before bed, or feeling anxious or stressed during the day. Most kids have nightmares once in a while, but 2- to 4-year-olds are particularly prone –this is an age when normal fears develop, imagination blossoms, and the ability to describe a bad dream kicks into high gear. Afterwards, they go back to snoozing soundly and don't remember the incident in the morning. Children having a night terror episode remain fast asleep throughout, in a deep, nondreaming state, yet they're extremely agitated and hard to console. Nightmares shouldn't be confused with night terrors, a less common sleep disturbance that usually strikes during the first third of the night. Your child may remember his bad dream the next day and may continue to be bothered by it. These scary episodes usually take place during the second half of the night, when dreaming is most likely to occur.

If your child wakes up crying or fearful and has trouble getting back to sleep, chances are he's had a nightmare.

Sims 4 toddler nightmares