During childhood, almost all children experience occasional nightmares. They usually begin around the age of two but are most common in children three to six years old. It is not known why children have nightmares, but it is believed that they are related to the normal anxiety and stress that are a part of growing children's lives.
Nightmares take place during light sleep.
Many children awaken when they are having a bad dream. They often wake themselves up with their movements or by talking, yelling, or crying, which only adds to the fright. Children who have awakened themselves may be very frightened, and they may be difficult for parents to calm. They may not want to go back to sleep. Some children have nightmares more often than others.