DD 2.5 scared of monsters??? Help

[Stasieki]

I was looking for some advice from the experiences caregivers out there. My DD 2.5 has been sleeping through the night / going to bed perfectly since 12 weeks old. All of the sudden 4 nights ago, she started crying bad at bedtime. Last night she finally told me there are monsters in her room. We, of course, told her that monsters don't exist are pretend, etc. I asked her to show me where and she pointed to her lamp that looks like a purse (has had it since birth). I took all her toys that are in her sight out into the living room (we are temporarily living in a much smaller house since June so a lot of big toys are in her room, but they haven't bothered her until now). I also gave her a princess wand and told her to "wish the monsters away". Seems to work a little. The only thing I know of is she started watching Lilo and Stitch and recently picked out a cereal that has the Monsters, Inc characters on it. Do you think this has started it? Any advice?

She still talks about it today.

 

[natnelliesmom]

We made a monster spray out of an air freshener. I just made my own label and taped it on. I made a big deal out of getting it out each night and spraying around all of the corners and under the bed and anyplace a monster might be. I found it was easier just to play along then to tell my DDs that monsters aren't real. They truly believed that they were real- and who was I to tell them otherwise?
The spray did the trick. They could smell that it was working- and we all got some sleep.
Good luck!
-Sarah

 

[Darcy03231]

We made a monster spray out of an air freshener. I just made my own label and taped it on. I made a big deal out of getting it out each night and spraying around all of the corners and under the bed and anyplace a monster might be. I found it was easier just to play along then to tell my DDs that monsters aren't real. They truly believed that they were real- and who was I to tell them otherwise?
The spray did the trick. They could smell that it was working- and we all got some sleep.
Good luck!
-Sarah

I did the same thing and it worked great.

 

[Stasieki]

Great idea! I will try it tonight. Thanks.

 

[princess&her4princes]

We went through that last year with our 2 yr. old son who shares a room with his BB and we ended up with one of those fake fish tanks-- my DH told him that Monsters where afraid of fish...whatever, it worked and lit the room so he could see just fine what was going on. We just turn it off when we go and check on them a couple of hours later. Good luck, it's tough!!!

 

[sherreis]

We made a "go away monster spray" too. We just bought a spray bottle and printed something on the computer for a label and filled it with water. It worked great.

 

[barnaby1]

We made a monster spray out of an air freshener. I just made my own label and taped it on. I made a big deal out of getting it out each night and spraying around all of the corners and under the bed and anyplace a monster might be. I found it was easier just to play along then to tell my DDs that monsters aren't real. They truly believed that they were real- and who was I to tell them otherwise?
The spray did the trick. They could smell that it was working- and we all got some sleep.
Good luck!
-Sarah

I like this idea! My 2.5 dd has recently started waking up at night saying she is afraid of the dark. There is definitely no use dismissing their fears as they are very real to the child. Maybe I need to find some "darkness spray".

 

[Stasieki]

My DD did great last night. I tried to soothe her a lot more with dim lights and more book time/rocking. I really enjoyed it b/c she has never been one to want to read books and rock so it was a nice bonding time. I did also leave her door open and the bathroom light on. When it was time she went on her own grabbed the princess wand and said "no more monsters". Then, went right to bed.

 

[crisi]

Monster spray works very well.

Also, did you know that Monsters are afraid of Teddy Bears? Its true. Its in the book Everying I Know About Monsters

Also, when we had monsters in the basement, we let an invisible elephant move in. He stomped on all the monsters - except Doug, who is flat and doesn't care if he gets stepped on by an invisible elephant. He might still live down there, although my own kids have outgrown monsters - you do have to be careful about stepping in the invisible elephant poop.

 

[Stasieki]

I love it

 

[GothTink]

Monster spray works very well.

Also, did you know that Monsters are afraid of Teddy Bears? Its true. Its in the book Everying I Know About Monsters

Also, when we had monsters in the basement, we let an invisible elephant move in. He stomped on all the monsters - except Doug, who is flat and doesn't care if he gets stepped on by an invisible elephant. He might still live down there, although my own kids have outgrown monsters - you do have to be careful about stepping in the invisible elephant poop.

 

[eeyoremum]

I didn't know monster spray was so popular...lol. Used it loved it. Works like a charm.

 

[bzzymom]

DD is 4, and last summer (age 3) DD woke up in the night screaming saying a turtle was going to get her. I turned on the light and she opened her eyes and she looked around and said "where did it go?" She thought that the light scared it away. She has a nightlight, but we got her a little disney princess flashlight that she keeps by her bed. If she gets scared she can turn the flashlight on to scare it away.

She was so traumatized by this dream, that she kept talking about the turtle for days. She didn't even want to see a turtle on tv or anything.

 

[mommyoftwinfants]

Go away big green monster and a Child's Guide to Common Household Monsters are good books to read to little ones afraid of monsters.