As many of you know, I have a 3 year old son. He is the joy of my life! I just love being a mom and he is the biggest blessing in my life.
He is usually an easygoing little boy. He is always happy and smiling. And he is a sweetheart!
Well, the last few days we have been having issues getting him to bed. The first time we noticed a problem, it was about 5 in the morning and he came running in our room, jumps in our bed and says there is something in his closet. Well, it was time for hubby to get ready for work, so I just left him in my bed and we cuddled and fell back asleep.
Now every night we put him to bed, he freaks out. His demeanor totally changes. He gets really stressed and nervous. He climbs in bed and keeps talking about something being in his closet. You can look at him and see the stress in his face. It is so sad. :( We have tried everything! He has a nightlight in his room, we pray before going to bed, he sleeps with a bunch of stuffed animals and blankets. I even tried to give him Spiderman for "protection". Oh and he always sleeps with his boombox on playing lullibies.
We check the closet everynight and show him there is nothing there. Last night the only way he fell asleep was when I sat in his bed with him. I left after he was fast asleep. BUT at 2 in the morning, he shows up in my bed again terrified and complaining about there being something in his closet.
What else can we do? I don't want him to be afraid of his room or of falling asleep...
10 comments:
Maybe you can put a light in his closet and leave it open so he can see it at all times. Give the little squishy hugs from me :)
I go through the same thing except that mine has what I call "acute mommytis". He is such a mommy's boy that wants to be on me and with me all the time and climbs in our bed to sleep around 2:00 am every morning. So, with lights and all, even tv on, he still goes to our bed.
I am sorry you are going through this, I too need advice!
Well, mine is a HUGE mommy's boy. lol I love it. And he has been extra clingy since I got pregnant again.
But I don't think this is the problem. He is really terrified of the closet.
I do like the light idea and leaving the door open. I shall try that. :)
Thanks.
Maybe there IS something in the closet!! LOL. I remember being so scared when I was child. It was irrational, but just as scary, nonetheless. I just had to "get over" it and when it became old, or something new came to take it's place it wasn't scary anymore. Good luck!
What if you try totally cleaning everything out of the closet, leaving the door open, and installing a light inside of it? That way he can see that there is absolutely nothing in the closet. If it works, maybe you can slowly begin to put things back in the closet over time.
Just an idea. I remember my dark bedroom scaring me as a kid.
Oh I am so sorry! Sleep issues are such a pain with kids.
Maybe give a little spray bottle so he spray them with "thing get ridder" while he is in bed.
Thank you so much for your compliments on my valentine hearts Viv!
Sorry you are going thru this :)
I think the checking the closet and the light idea are good suggestions.
I think you definitely want to be consistent about taking him back to bed (or that could become another issue), reassuring him by checking the closet again.
He will eventually feel reassured :)
Wishing you well, regards, T.
I remember my son doing this, too, and that was 20+ years ago, he was the same age. Turn the closet into a space ship for awhile and put stars in the closet that glow in the dark! (or whatever his favorite idea is) He'll look forward to the closet and you'll probably not be able to get him to bed for awhile, but that's OK, space travelers sleep in space ships! No matter how much logic you use on a child, (there's no monsters in there? see? ) it never works. Try making the closet a fun place for a little while. No more closet, perhaps no more problems!
Grandma Valerie :)
I had a thought, you know those things you make with the popsicle sticks (or dowels or regular sticks) and you wrap the yarn around it?
You can have him make a whole bunch and then hang them around his room and tell him they keep away monsters.
lol Dani! Does he still sleep w/ Mr. Bear?
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