Toddler does not want to sleep alone - Monsters!!

It is maybe not the best thing do do, but I let Armand crawl into bed with me when he gets scared. I haven't gotten over my fear of the dark , so we both sleep better if I don't have to run to his room several times a night and switch on every light on the way. How can I anyway, tell him that there isn't "monsters" if I am 9 times his age and still believe in "monsters" lurking in the dark.

I think I should try the fairy dust or monster spray...... for myself.. .

LOL !! I just love these stories. I am taking notes for the day that i have to do the Fairy Dust or monster spray.

Just Love it !

I also did the "monster spray" trick.
Put a few drops of tea tree oil in it so it smelt so it was more "bona fide". Spray in cupboards etc (in case there are monsters in there).



My LG also has a special teddy that used to get medicine first before her, asthma pump etc. So a special toy to hug for comfort and protection might help (like he is a super hero).

(she's 11 now and "Harry" is still used at nighttime for stress sometimes)

I was scared of the dark until I was about 16 so I think it is natural.

Similiar Idea to what other ladies suggested:

Get a spraybottle and fill it with water and some food colouring and
write on the bottle "monster spray" and every night before you put your LO in bed, do the ritual of spraying the room with this anti-monster spray.

Good luck. xx

Preni - shame poor LG - I was terribly scared of the dark as a child, right into my teens, so I do empathise with fear.

Kids however do often use the fact that they are scared to garnish more attention from mom. I like Claire's idea of recognising the fear and then finding a way to "ritualise" that it is gone or you have overcome it, without resorting to "entertaining" the fear and allowing the child to either move from her bed, or you end up in her bed.

I know it is difficult, as the knee-jerk reaction is to get in to bed with her or to take her to your bed - but it does created a course of action that often does more harm than good.

I think establish what that "monsters" or "spiders' are - they are often not either, but something else that is bothering her. Chatting to her and finding out what it is that is scaring her and then making a show of taking it away goes a long way.

My son who is nearly 9 won't sleep with the door closed, and will only get into bed if the room light is on, I need to go and turn it off. Same boy who will pick up spiders and sort of cockroaches fo rme.

My daughter who is 5 will turn off the light to get into bed, and likes to sleep with the bedroom doors closed. Totally fearless - she will touch snakes and crawlies, but moths and ants scare the crap out of her.

Kids fears are often connected to something totally unexpected.

It helps to not react to them as an adult i.e. to take them out of the situation, but rather establish what it is about it that is scaring them and then resolve it.

I hope that helps.

Brandon went thru that a while ago as well, not sure where it came from either.

I got some coloured sand from a craft shop and a cocktail stirrer. We would sprinkle the sand around his bed and in front of the cupboard doors and called it "fairy dust" which keeps monsters away and the cocktail stirrer was his "magic wand" which we kept next to his bed, in case a monster broke thru the protective ring made by the "fairy dust".

But you can call it anything you want, and make a big story up about it and make it a bit of a ritual every night. Worked for us - took about a week and he no longer needed the "fairy dust". The magic wand still comes out occassionally if he has had a rough day

Ah shame man

Maybe ask her where she heard about the monsters so you can get to the route cause and then you'll be better equipped to convince her that there is no such thing.

Has she perhaps seen something on TV?