Bedtime Nightmares

I have one child who hardly ever woke up in the night and three other children who often woke up in the night due to nightmares. I don't have a good explanation for it-but if you are patient and loving (I'm sure you are) they will grow out of it. You could try lengthening the bedtime routine with a couple more stories and maybe sing to him a little. Since this is different from his every day schedule he might need to know a little extra that he is loved and secure. Good luck, Amy

We have one who definitely feels locked in if the door is closed. If we close the door he goes to the door and knocks and cries, but if we leave the door open he stays in bed and goes right to sleep.

Another thought, is there a special lovey, a blanket or animal, that would make him feel more at home if he brought it with him? Or maybe a special toy that hangs on the side of the crib? Or maybe just a special one for at Grandma's?

The Sleeplady. She saved my life!!! She has a website and a book, you have to read it! I must have read 20 books on sleeping, but this one really works! Google the sleep lady!!!!
Sweet dreams!

If your boy is in a crib I would give you the advice my Dr. gave me with my 1st. Kids are smart, they learn to do what it takes to get the attention they want, even if it means not sleeping. As parents, or grandparents we feel badly if our children cry for an extended period of time and we end up hurting them when we could help them. For example if you try to let you child cry them self to sleep and you wait for 2 hours and then finally go in and comfort them, than the next time they know that if they cry for 2 hrs someone will save them. I know it's tough and you might not watch him much, but if you're willing to let him cry through the times he wakes up, after a few times he'll realize that he sleeps at grandma's house. My son was 4 mo when we let him cry through the night and it took 2-3 nights of crying and then he slept through the night from then on.

If he's not in a crib let me know, I have another suggestion (one we used with our 21mo old).

A little about me:

I have 5 kids, my oldest is now 6 and my youngest is 3 mo

First you needn't check on him so much. If he is going back and forth to different homes at night then that is probably a huge factor. I would say until he is older he needs his own bed at night. Kids thrive on structure and not having his own room even one night a week throws that off.
He also can maybe sense you are looking in on him and that is waking him up.
I am not sure it is nightmares as much as it being a pattern, if he is used to getting attention from you at night it is now a habit. Do not check on him until you know he is asleep and you only need to again before you go to bed yourself. Keep up the routine and help him break the habit of waking up and not getting back to sleep by teaching him to get back to sleep alone. May sound harsh but you are creating a pattern and a habit with him and his sleep pattern if you continue to check on him and go to him if he wakes up.

I am not sure about if this book will help with the night mares but this book compeletly changed how I put my second child to sleep and it worked like a dream- Pun intended!
It is called "secrets of the baby whisperer". I don't remember the author but it is a great book.
Another tip is for you to relax. I mean really relax and breath. Stay calm and focus that to your child. They read us very easily and pick up on our stress. If you go into "feeling or knowing" it is going to be hard, most likely it will be. Also rubbing your childs feet with some lavender oil, diluted in a base oil is very relaxing. Keep up the good work- you are doing a great job. Parenting is harder the better its done.
Take care and get some naps in for yourself if you can
When Mama is happy - everyone's happy!
WIth respect,
M.