My daughter is 2 1/2 years old and has been sleeping in her bed in her room since she was about 10 months old. She has done wonderfully with the occasional exception of when she is sick or just needs a little extra attention (happened maybe once a week). However, now she is afraid to sleep in her room in her bed because of monsters. Two of her favorite cartoons are Scooby Doo and Care Bears and I have since taken Scooby Doo away for the time being thinking that would help. I explain to her every night that there is no such thing as monsters, they are just on TV, and even had daddy come kick the monster out and throw him out the front door! She still won't sleep in her room. So after talking with my therapist, who works with children as well, said to try "monster spray" so we tried that. Thought it was working until about 10 minutes later, she was standing at the door crying about monsters and wants to sleep in our bed. We leave the light on, have tried letting her sleep on a mat in the floor (which she used to like once in a while). I just don't know what else to try! She has a night light, but a couple of times last week, we just left her light on because that worked, but now that doesn't either. Any advice from any of you moms out there that have gotten rid of the monsters, HELP! FAST!! I need my bed back!
First of all, I was completely overwhelmed at all the responses I received! I didn't realize how many mothers are out there willing to help out a "rookie" mom! :) Thanks so much to everyone who responded! We basically used a little advice from each of you and made it fit our family's needs. We continued the monster spray, left her lights on, assured her she was safe, etc. I think the biggest change we made was moving her stuff to another room. We are fortunate enough to have a spare bedroom so we moved all of her things into the new room and moved everything from that room, into another room. It worked for her and now she has a "new room"! Thanks again to all of you and I hope one day I can return the favor! ~L., First Time Mommy to Hannah Banana 9/1/04, ^"^Angel Baby^"^ 2/9/06, TTC #3
My kids love the movie Monsters Inc. When they complain about monsters, I remind them of the movie. If it goes on, I tell them that when we moved in the monsters moved out. They now live with their mommys and daddys. That seems to work with my kids. Good Luck!
When my now 15 year old daughter was little, there was no convincing her that there were no such things as monsters. What we finally ended up doing was telling her at bed time, that it was bed time for the monsters to go to bed too and they had to go to their own homes and go to sleep. So after story time, yet before prayers, we'd go to the closet door, open it up and tell the monsters good night. Whatever works, huh?
What I have read is to get a cute little spray bottle and fill it with water and out some glitter in it.
This is her anti-monster potion, or her fear-be-gone perfume. Each night, spray just a little mist over her and she will feel better. Eventually she will have comfort and not need the spray anymore.
A cute story book is Buttermilk, about a little Bunny who got scared of shadows and then his mother showed him that in the light, she shadows are just a lump of clothes on a chair or a tree trunk. Maybe you can have a little conversation with her about this and read her the book.
When my son was afraid of monsters, I put baby powder on the floor and told him monster were afraid of it because they would melt if got near it. I used powder because he could see it on the floor. I also told him that monsters would not come to our house because they were afraid of our dogs. I told him our dogs would protect us from monsters. He occasionally wants the dogs to stay in the room with him, and I let them untill he goes to sleep. Then I let them out.
I know this sounds strange but when I was a little girl I was the same way and my mother told me that they were my friends. Every night before bed I would tell them goodnight and that we could play the next day. They also would protect me and watch iver me when I slept or played in my room. Not sure if this helps but it did for me. Good luck!!
It could be that she wants to stay up or something else. Is she watching anything else that might frighten her? I've heard about the monster spray. Do you leave it with her so she can spray it if she thinks she needs it? I've also heard people who keep something under the child's pillow. . .whatever you so choose (some people even use small Bible). Then you tell her something about how monsters aren't real but if they were they couldn't stay in a room where ____ is under the pillow (or under the bed or whatever works for you). I don't know if any of this would work for you, but you may want to try. Good luck.
Just a few thoughts that might work.Maybe a monster alarm(old alarm clock) monster watch dogs you have two. Monster shield(blanket).Little ones hear things like the news and know there are bad things happening(monsters).My niece used to drink orange juice at bed time then would have nightmare or wake up, we changed the drink to less acidity and that worked. Good luck
We took a spray bottle and filled it with colored water (a drop of food coloring) and decorated the bottle with stickers from his favorite characters. We then attached a letter and put them in a box wrapped all nice and had it outside our front door and rang the door bell. We read the note to our son and it was something along the lines of Star Wars sent this Force spray because they heard he scared at night in his room and if he sprayed everywhere he would be safe and Star Wars would see to it. He just thought that was great and every night before bed he sprayed everything that was scary to him. but thats why we only added a drop of food coloring so it wouldn't stain. I would think you could take any characters even Care Bears and make it suit her. Best of luck to you... I know it can be trying!
I can only tell you what worked for me as a child. My mom would take me back into my room and we would search the whole room. She would show me what the room looked like with the light on and the light off. Then she would ask me to point out the monsters with the light on and the light off. She would then show me that it was just a shirt on a chair or whatever it was. I was also given my own flashlight so that I could turn on my own light because that would make the shadows go away. My parents did not allow me to sleep in their bed, that just encouraged me to see things that weren't there.
As for the child we will have in June, we bought a puppy in Feb. His name is Monster. He is gonna be a big loveable dog and so we are prepared to tell her she has her very own Monster to protect her against whatever she sees.
Monster is the little brother (will be bigger) to my basset, Godiva and has really helped us transition into toddlerhood fast. He's now at the terrible two stage testing his boundaries. At least with puppies, it doesn't last as long. By the time our little girl comes into this world, he will be 6 months and old enough to understand commands better. He really has been a light for us and Godiva and will be a companion for her until the baby needs him.
I hope my suggestions help. Good luck!
Jodi
If I am remembering correctly from my childhood, didn't Scooby Doo also have ghosts in the stories? What if that is what she is afraid of and can't verbalize it? If so, no "Monster Sray" will help, no matter how much glitter you put in it.
My son has not asked about monsters or ghosts, but if he did, I would attempt to comfort him with wisdom from the Bible (in much simpler words, obviously.)
I don't know your beliefs or if you even want to address this, but this is what my suggestion is for what it is worth:
I think your daughter is scared and she has every right to be. She has been taught something scary exists and it will take a while for that to be untaught and for her to feel secure again.
I tell my child, "When people die, it's like they are asleep; they can't hurt you."
Your daughter's need of security is paramount, so whatever your belief is, I hope she finds some peaceful sleep soon!!
All the best, Liz
P.S. This is my belief on ghosts, etc. if you are wondering why I tell my son that dead people cannot hurt him. Yes, I do believe that 1/3 of the angels that fell from heaven are alive and well and doing horrible works, but I think that is way too much for children to comprehend and need not be addressed. Their need is to feel safe....
David declares that man is not conscious in death:
"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Psalm 146:4.
Solomon bears the same testimony:
"The living know that they shall die: but the dead know NOT ANYTHING." "Their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun." "There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10.
When, in answer to his prayer, Hezekiah's life was prolonged fifteen years, the grateful king rendered to God a tribute of praise for His great mercy. In this song he tells the reason why he thus rejoices:
"The grave cannot praise Thee, death cannot celebrate Thee: they that go down into the pit CANNOT hope for Thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise Thee, as I do this day." Isaiah 38:18, 19.
Psalms 6:5; 115:17
"In death there is no remembrance of Thee: in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?" "THE DEAD PRAISE NOT THE LORD, neither any that go down into silence."
Peter on the Day of Pentecost declared that the patriarch David, who was righteous before God "is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day." "For David is NOT ascended into the heavens." Acts 2:29, 34.
My daughter too loves Scooby Doo and has brought up the whole monster thing and also bears getting her. I just remind her on Scoby Doo at the end how they take the mask off and its just a person and its like Halloween and that seems to help for her to remember that those monsters are only people and monsters arent real. I also tell her if the night light is on nothing can bother her. Also I just remind her as along as mommy is in the housr nothing monsters/weather can hurt or sacre her. This seems to be enough for her but shes 4 and I guess its easier to accept that answer at that age vs. your child is younger but you msy try it anyway.
My husband has had great success with our girls' monsters. He has granted "parent power" to a stuffed animal to keep them safe. He told the kids that keeping the animal with him for one whole day, that the animal would gain "daddy powers". Therefore any monsters that daddy would scare away can now be scared away by the inpowered animal.
He took the animal to work with him (of course it stayed in the car) but it worked to allow thyem to sleep without calling him up to scare the monsters every day.
Hope that helps,
H.
We bought a can of lysol. Covered up the can with a piece of paper that said "Monster spray" on it and she would spray it in her room before bed and it would keep the monsters away.
my friend did the same thing with a water bottle & water. It worked for both of us.
K.
L.,
It may be your daughter's way of getting to stay up later, or a way to keep your attention for a little longer. Or it may be something the "monster spray" can make disappear. (What a great idea that is!) Fear can come in through movies, etc. But, it may not be just a fear.
Children can see into the spirit realm more than we adults can. For instance, my daughter sees angels and my son can see demons. Some animals also can see into that "unseen" realm. We've had times when we had to cleanse a house spiritually. If you want more information on how to do that, just email me and I'll be glad to tell you how we've done it. It helped so much! We didn't tell anyone what we did and friends would come into our house afterward and say, "What's different? It feels (or sounds) different in your house now."
Hope this helps.
A. S.
