Calm a Baby Down After a Nightmare - Make sure your baby is awake before attempting to comfort it. Sometimes babies have nightmares that jostle them awake, however, they often quickly forget the nightmare and drift back to sleep without interference. Allow five to 10 minutes for the baby to drift back to sleep before making your presence known.
Don't turn on any lights or at least keep them very low. Do your best not to change the relaxed sleeping environment your baby was in.
Calm a Baby Down After a Nightmare
Maintain a calm and relaxed demeanor and gently rub the baby's stomach or back. Picking the baby up should be a last effort. Gently rub and speak to the baby in a low, calm voice and perhaps sing a lullaby.
Pick the baby up should it continue to cry after five or 10 minutes of rubbing its stomach or back. Gently rock your baby in your arms and continue speaking in a calm voice. Continue gently rocking the baby until it falls back to sleep.
Although babies may not have the ability to fully communicate, they do have dreams. While dreaming, a baby may have nightmares that can be startling and cause fussiness. Knowing how to calm the baby down can help get the baby back into a comfortable and relaxing sleep. - by eHow
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