Prayer Against Bad Dreams for Children: 12 Points & KJV

By Dr. Grace Osei, Covenant Fire Ministries · Reviewed under our Editorial Standards · New here? Start here.

It is two in the morning and a small voice is calling from the next room. Your child is sitting up in bed, eyes wide, tears on their cheeks, saying a monster was chasing them or someone was in the room. You hold them close and wonder: is this just a bad dream, or is something spiritual going on, and how do I pray? If you have been looking for a prayer against bad dreams for children, this guide is for you. It explains what the Bible says about our children and the night, how to tell an ordinary nightmare from something that needs more attention, a calm bedtime routine, short prayers your child can say, and Scripture-based prayer points for parents.

First, take a breath. Nightmares are a very common part of childhood, and a frightened child does not mean a cursed child. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). That promise is for you and for your little one.

What the Bible Says About Children and the Night

Before we pray, it helps to know where we stand. Scripture gives parents solid ground for peace.

• Your children belong to God. “Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). You are a steward of your child, and the Lord cares for them even more than you do.
• Jesus welcomes children. “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). Your child can come to Jesus with their fears, in their own simple words.
• God promises peace to your children. “And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children” (Isaiah 54:13).
• The Lord never sleeps. “Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4). While your child sleeps, God is awake.
• Angels watch over little ones. Jesus said, “in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10), and the psalmist wrote, “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (Psalm 91:11).
• Sleep can be sweet. “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet” (Proverbs 3:24).

Scripture also shows that God can speak to children at night. The boy Samuel heard the Lord call his name while he slept in the temple, and he learned to answer, “Speak; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10). The night is not the enemy’s territory. It belongs to God too.

Prayer Against Bad Dreams for Children: Start With Understanding

Many parents in Nigeria, Ghana and across the diaspora were raised to see every bad dream as an attack. Spiritual battles are real, and the Bible says we wrestle “against principalities, against powers” (Ephesians 6:12). But wise parents hold two truths together: the spiritual world is real, and children’s minds and bodies are still growing.

Common, ordinary reasons a child may have bad dreams include:

• A frightening story, film, video or game, especially close to bedtime.
• Big changes or stress: a new school, moving house, a new baby, a parent travelling, arguments at home, or the loss of someone they love.
• Being overtired or sleeping at irregular times.
• Illness or fever, which can make dreams more vivid.
• Normal childhood imagination. Children are still learning what is real and what is not, so the dark can feel very big.

None of this means you should stop praying. It simply means you pray with wisdom, and you also look after the practical things. God often answers our prayers through good habits, a calm home and, when needed, a good doctor.

Nightmares or Night Terrors?

It also helps to know the difference. With a nightmare, a child usually wakes up, can tell you what scared them and wants comfort. With night terrors, a child may scream, thrash or seem awake while still asleep, and often does not remember it in the morning. The NHS guide to night terrors and nightmares explains these and when to get medical advice. Night terrors can look alarming, but they are a known sleep issue, not proof of a spiritual attack. Speak to a doctor if episodes are frequent, if your child snores loudly or seems to stop breathing in sleep, or if you are worried about their safety.

A Calm Bedtime Routine for Your Child

A peaceful bedtime prepares the heart for peaceful sleep. You do not need special items or anyone’s “anointed” products. You need love, consistency and the Word of God. Moses told parents to speak God’s words to their children “when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deuteronomy 6:7). Bedtime is a natural time to do exactly that.

1. Turn off screens early. Put away phones, tablets and the TV some time before bed, and keep scary content away from young children altogether.
2. Keep a regular bedtime. Children feel safer when the evening follows the same pattern. The Sleep Foundation’s guide to children’s sleep habits has practical tips.
3. Make the room feel safe. A small night light, a favourite blanket and a tidy, calm space can help. If you would like to dedicate the room to God, our guide on how to anoint your room shows a simple, Bible-based way, without fear and without paying anyone.
4. Read a short Bible story or verse. Choose peaceful passages: Jesus calming the storm, the Good Shepherd, David trusting God. Psalm 4:8 and Proverbs 3:24 are wonderful to read aloud.
5. Talk for a minute. Ask, “What was the best part of today? Is anything worrying you?” Many bad dreams carry worries a child has not been able to say.
6. Pray together. Let your child pray too, even one sentence. Then lay your hand gently on their head and bless them.
7. Sing or play worship softly. David wrote, “thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7). A gentle hymn is a lovely way to end the day.

Short Bedtime Prayers Your Child Can Say

Children do not need long or complicated prayers. Teach them short, simple words they can remember and say on their own, even at night when they wake up afraid.

For little ones (ages 3 to 6):
“Dear Jesus, thank You for today. Please keep me safe tonight. Help me sleep and have good dreams. I love You. Amen.”

For older children:
“Father God, I give You my mind and my sleep tonight. You never sleep, so I can rest. Your angels are watching over me. When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If they wake up from a bad dream:
“Jesus, I am scared, but You are here. Your peace is with me. Help me go back to sleep. Amen.” You can teach them Psalm 56:3 as a tiny prayer: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.”

A Parent’s Prayer Against Bad Dreams for Your Child

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of my child. You said children are Your heritage, so I bring [name] back into Your hands tonight. Lord Jesus, You welcomed little children and blessed them, so I bring my child to You now. I ask that Your peace, which passes all understanding, will guard [name]’s heart and mind. Give Your angels charge over this child to keep them in all their ways. Every fear, every frightening image and every troubling dream, I bring under the authority of Jesus Christ. Any power that is not of You has no right over my child, for Jesus has triumphed over every principality and power. Where these dreams come from worry, stress or something they saw, Lord, heal and calm their mind. Where my child needs help from a doctor or counsellor, give me wisdom to find it. Let [name] lie down in peace and sleep, and let their sleep be sweet. Teach my child Your ways, and let great be the peace of my children. In Jesus’ mighty name I pray. Amen.

12 Prayer Points Against Bad Dreams for Children

Pray these over your child at bedtime, or at night while they sleep. Use your child’s name.

1. Father, I thank You that my child is Your heritage and Your reward, and You care for them more than I ever could (Psalm 127:3).
2. Lord, I cast every care about my child’s sleep upon You, for You care for us (1 Peter 5:7).
3. Lord Jesus, I bring my child to You tonight. Lay Your hands on them and bless them, as You blessed the little children (Mark 10:14).
4. Let my child lie down in peace and sleep, for You alone make them dwell in safety (Psalm 4:8).
5. Father, let my child not be afraid of the terror by night (Psalm 91:5).
6. Give Your angels charge over my child, to keep them in all their ways (Psalm 91:11).
7. Let the angel of the Lord encamp round about our home and deliver us (Psalm 34:7).
8. Every frightening image my child has seen or heard, Lord, wash it from their mind, and keep them in perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).
9. Every power of darkness that would trouble my child, I resist in Jesus’ name, for He has spoiled principalities and powers and triumphed over them (Colossians 2:15).
10. Lord, You promised, “I will save thy children.” Contend with whatever contends with my child (Isaiah 49:25).
11. Let my child be taught of the Lord, and let great be the peace of my children (Isaiah 54:13).
12. Father, let my child’s sleep be sweet, and let them wake up refreshed, saying, “I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me” (Psalm 3:5, Proverbs 3:24).

For more Scripture prayers at night, see our prayer against bad dreams (written for adults, but many points can be adapted for children) and keep our Psalms for protection at night by the bed.

What to Do When Your Child Wakes Up From a Bad Dream

How you respond in those first minutes matters more than any long prayer. Your calm teaches your child that God’s peace is real.

1. Go to them quickly and calmly. Hold them, speak softly and let them know they are safe.
2. Do not frighten them further. Avoid shouting, panicked rebuking or telling a young child that a witch or demon was in the room. Fear spreads fear.
3. Let them tell you, if they want. Listen without making the dream bigger. Then remind them gently that it was a dream and that Jesus is with them.
4. Pray a short prayer together. Something simple, like: “Jesus, thank You that You are here. Fill [name] with Your peace. Amen.”
5. Settle them back to sleep. A sip of water, a toilet visit, the night light on, a soft song or Psalm 4:8.
6. Talk in the morning. If the same dream keeps returning, ask gently what is happening at school, with friends or at home. Write down the patterns.

If you would like to understand dreams more deeply, read our guides on what the Bible says about dreams and how to know if a dream is from God.

When Bad Dreams Need More Than Prayer

Prayer is powerful, and it works hand in hand with care. Please speak to a doctor or health visitor if:

• Bad dreams or night terrors happen very often or are getting worse.
• Your child snores loudly, gasps or seems to stop breathing in their sleep.
• Your child sleepwalks or could hurt themselves during an episode.
• Bad dreams started after an accident, a frightening event or a loss.
• Your child seems anxious, withdrawn, angry or very different during the day.

If your child’s fears or behaviour change suddenly, or they say something that makes you worried that someone may be hurting them, take it seriously. Talk to your child gently, speak to a doctor, and contact your local child protection or social services. Protecting a child is part of praying for them.

Protect Your Child From Harmful “Deliverance”

Sadly, in some places children have been labelled as witches or as “possessed” because of their dreams, bedwetting, illness or difficult behaviour. This has caused terrible harm. Jesus warned, “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones” (Matthew 18:10).

• Never let anyone beat, starve, burn, isolate or frighten a child in the name of deliverance.
• Do not accuse relatives because of a child’s dream. A dream is not evidence.
• Be wary of anyone who demands money, sells “special” oil, soap or water for your child, asks for night visits to a river or shrine, or promises guaranteed results. Jesus said, “freely ye have received, freely give” (Matthew 10:8).
• Choose gentle, mature believers who pray with you, point you to Scripture, respect medical care and treat your child with tenderness.

If you are raising children far from home or simply want to build a peaceful, prayer-covered household, Guard Your Home by Dr. Grace Osei is a calm, Bible-based guide to praying over your home and children, room by room, without fear and without accusing anyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are bad dreams in children a spiritual attack?

Not usually on their own. Nightmares are a common part of childhood, and most come from fear, stress, illness or things a child has seen. Spiritual battles are real (Ephesians 6:12), so keep praying, but look first at ordinary causes and speak to a doctor if the dreams are frequent or severe.

What Bible verse can I pray against bad dreams for my child?

Psalm 4:8, Proverbs 3:24, Psalm 91:5 and 11, Isaiah 54:13 and Psalm 56:3 are all good choices. Read them aloud at bedtime and turn them into prayers using your child’s name.

What prayer can my child say when they have a nightmare?

Keep it short: “Jesus, I am scared, but You are here. Your peace is with me. Help me go back to sleep. Amen.” Teaching Psalm 56:3, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee,” gives them a verse they can remember in the dark.

Should I anoint my child or their room with oil?

The Bible does not command it, and oil has no power of its own. Some families pray over a child’s room with a little olive oil as a symbol of dedicating it to God. If you do, keep it simple, safe and away from your child’s face and eyes, and never pay for “special” oil. See our guide on how to anoint your room.

My child keeps dreaming about the same person or thing. What should I do?

Write down the pattern, pray about it and talk gently with your child about their day. Recurring dreams often point to a worry or something they have seen. If you are concerned, or the dreams are about someone hurting them, speak to a doctor and take action to keep them safe. Do not accuse anyone based on a dream alone.

Can a spiritual husband or spiritual spouse affect my children?

Some ministers teach that unresolved spiritual issues in a parent can affect a household. That is a belief, not a diagnosis, and it should never lead to fear or blame. Read our balanced guide to the spiritual husband and children for a careful, Scripture-based view.

Final Encouragement

Dear mother, dear father, your child’s bad dreams do not mean you have failed or that God has forgotten your home. The One who never slumbers is watching over your child tonight. Keep the routine simple, keep your voice calm, keep the Word close, and get help when it is needed. Little by little, your child will learn that when they lie down they need not be afraid, and that their sleep can be sweet.

New here? Visit our Start Here page, or explore more prayers against spiritual husband and Bible verses about spiritual husband to keep building your family on the Word.

Disclaimer: This page offers spiritual and devotional guidance based on Christian faith. It is not medical, psychological or legal advice, and no particular outcome is guaranteed. Please consult qualified professionals for health or mental-health concerns. Read our full Disclaimer.