The first night, we spent 15 minutes taking turns spraying everywhere we thought the monsters might be or might try to come in. We talked about how the spray scares monsters away. The next night we spent less time spraying and a few nights later I was able to calm him with just a few sprays myself before bed. This technique really helped him.
Some of my friends have found the book "Go Away Big Green Monster" to be helpful. These Go Away Big Green Monster Activities are a fun way to interact with that book.
These bedtime tips from Sprout really work and you may also want to check out The Pajanimals, available only on 24-hour preschool television channel Sprout, which features four fuzzy friends who wind down for bedtime in a cozy and reassuring way. The show helps you tackle common bedtime issues like getting out of bed, bad dreams and scary monsters.
What do you do to help calm night time fears with your kids?
By replying below four of my lucky readers will win a prize package - including a Pajanimals DVD and The Sleepeasy Solution book, proven by Hollywood’s celebrity parents and written by the sleep experts at Sleepy Planet.
my son has started "my bed is scary". I thought maybe a stalling method, but maybe not. I'll be looking for a nite light today & will pull out a spray bottle. What age did this start for you?
ReplyDeleteWe talk about what is scaring them and then we pray about it!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is only 1 so isn't scared yet but we have been spoiled by such a good sleeper that I fear the day she may be scared or may be pulling our leg so she can stay up longer :)
ReplyDeleteShaunna
shulrick@yahoo.com
We talk about how God is bigger than anything else and that He will protect her. Then we pray. Seems to work very well. sepoen@hushmail.com
ReplyDeleteWOW! So fitting! We were just woken up last night at 2am by our 4 yr old son saying he had a bad dream. He had spiky monsters after him. NO idea where that type of monster came from but it seemed so real to him I felt horrible! Great idea about the monster spray...we will have to give that one a try. :-) Thanks for another great idea!
ReplyDeleteIt started for B at age 21/2 or 3. He is 5 now and still wakes up scared from bad dreams.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have that much trouble with night time monsters except when it's lights out where we had lots of crying. I just hug her and tell her that there is no monster, because mommy is around and the monster is scared of mommy, hahaha! Now she would insist that it's her job to turn on the night light whenever it's time to turn off the room lights. It started when she was 2 y/o, she's 3.2 y/o now. :)
ReplyDeleteOur 4 year old has some bad dreams and comes and sleeps in our room. if i'm not too tired he goes back to his room otherwise he has a sleep over which is a special treat. Luckily it doesn't happen that often.
ReplyDelete