A nurse is talking with the guardian of a 4-year-old who reports the child wakes up at night with nightmares. Which intervention should the nurse suggest?

A nurse is talking with the guardian of a 4-year-old who reports the child wakes up at night with nightmares. Which intervention should the nurse suggest?

• A. Offer the child a large snack before bedtime
• B. Allow the child to watch an extra 30 min of TV in the evening
• C. Have the child go to bed at a consistent time every day
• D. Increase physical activity before bedtime

Answer: (C)

Consistent bedtimes help regulate the child's sleep-wake cycle and ensure enough quality sleep. When a 4-year-old has a stable, predictable bedtime, the body’s internal clock stays aligned, making it easier to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep through the night. This reduces fragmented sleep and the likelihood that nightmares will wake the child, since sleep debt and irregular routines can heighten arousal and distress during the night. At this age, about 11–12 hours of sleep is typical, so a regular bedtime supports reaching that amount and fostering calmer nights. The other options tend to increase nighttime arousal or discomfort: a large snack before bed can cause indigestion or energy, extra TV time can overstimulate and delay sleep onset, and more physical activity late in the day can raise adrenaline and delay sleep onset.

Consistent bedtimes help regulate the child's sleep-wake cycle and ensure enough quality sleep. When a 4-year-old has a stable, predictable bedtime, the body’s internal clock stays aligned, making it easier to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep through the night. This reduces fragmented sleep and the likelihood that nightmares will wake the child, since sleep debt and irregular routines can heighten arousal and distress during the night. At this age, about 11–12 hours of sleep is typical, so a regular bedtime supports reaching that amount and fostering calmer nights.

The other options tend to increase nighttime arousal or discomfort: a large snack before bed can cause indigestion or energy, extra TV time can overstimulate and delay sleep onset, and more physical activity late in the day can raise adrenaline and delay sleep onset.