From the time our daughter was born until her two-year birthday, I never understood toddler dreams that resort in screams and tears. Their little minds haven't been exposed to enough to have "bad dreams," so what scares them at night? Dreams of an empty bottle? Cold milk or formula? Maybe a stinky diaper?!
As I rushed into our daughter's room at 3am this morning, following terrified screams, she sat wide-eyed but still sound asleep yelling again and again, "Mommy pop-pop." I could not help but fight back laughter as I confirmed what her horrible dreams entailed. She was having a nightmare about not being given another lollipop yesterday. She calls them pop-pop. Given occasional treats for helping or good behavior is her reward, and sometimes when she's finished one treat -- as is the case with many children -- she insists on another. As I picked her up from her bed, she looked at me in dismay, and in the sweetest voice said, "Mommy, I need pop-pop." I calmly let her know that it's still night time and maybe tomorrow she can have a lollipop. She rolled over and was sound asleep.
I've read that kids have nightmares any time there's a change in routine, varied sleep schedule, stress, or simply anxiety about something in the child's day-to-day activities. Although her nightmares are rare, her sleep has been varied lately with travel, events, and all the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I'm hoping that despite how funny a lollipop nightmare sounds, that returning to her normal sleep schedule will remedy the drama.
-Leslie Osmond
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Photo courtesy of https://blog.etsy.com/en/files/2012/01/WMBD_SPACE1.jpg
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