[Yelena]

Juliana is 3 years, 8 months old. She is a happy, well-behaved, secure, amazing little girl and I still can't get over how blessed we are! I thought it all was too good to be true, and then...

...about a month and a half ago, she started having sleep problems, and the most I can get her to tell me is that she thinks there are monsters in her closet. Nothing changed at that time -- it's not like she started a new school or went through a major milestone -- so I can't figure out what could have happened. I've heard it's normal to have these fears at this age, but it's been over 90 days, and her reaction seems extreme (top-of-the-lungs screaming, pounding on the door). There were some nights when she was okay, but the bad nights were REALLY bad.

We've done everything we can think of: removed the closet doors, rearranged furniture, removed shadowy objects, sprayed the room with "anti-monster" spray, set up protective stuffed animals -- everything the "experts" say to do, we've tried.

Her nighttime screaming got so bad that we were afraid our neighbors would call CPS. For the last two weeks, I've done the one thing we aren't supposed to do but it 's the only thing that works -- she's been sleeping in my room (on her own pillows and blankets, on the floor). Once she's in the room with me, her happy self comes right back and she sleeps fine. Also, she just stayed overnight at Grandma's house for the first time this weekend, and she was fine.

I was going to try to ease her back into her room but she won't get in her bed, if even I stay in the room with her. She's fine during the day, but as soon as nighttime comes around, she won't go near her room.

Any ideas??

[joepegcamp]

My son is almost three and picked up the 'monster in the closet' idea from one of his classmates. That kid picked it up from his good ol' dad. (That kid's birthday is coming up and I'm thinking a set of really loud drums is a great gift, but I digress.)

This is what works for us. It's kinda silly, but he's sleeping in his own room.

1. We scare the monsters away. Open the door and yell BOO! Look under the bed and yell BOO! BOO! the dickens out of the house.

2. A nightlight. It's in a shape of an angel and part of his prayer every night is to ask Lord to have the angel guard him against monsters.

3. Spider Man jammies. (Stop laughing.) We sing the spider man song and talk about the super powers that spider man has to keep monsters away. When he's wearing those jammies, the monster won't get him.

Personally, I think our kid is playing us. Years from now, he's gonna tell this story to someone and say "my parents were soooo gullible." If he turns out to be even semi-famous, I'm sure it will end up in an interview or a book.

[drport]

Hi,

Wow, I only pop on here very infrequently. Saw your post and thought there is a blast from the past!!! How are you? My email is still the same if you want to send me an email. If you don't have it send me a PM. Daniela has had similar issues as of late but hers are about spiders.
Hugs,

D

[LRA]

Aaaahhhh so I am not the only person who has monsters in their house? Ours happened around Thanksgiving last year (before he turned 3) but I think I know what happened (not that it helps) we have a black cat that is on the snippy side who had gotten in his crib and slept, well because it is dark when we put him to bed, except the night light,we did not see her, the cat scared him, thus creating the "kitty cat monster" Nothing works, I too have given in for the sake of sanity and let him sleep in our bed. He was THAT pitiful. Now I am stuck and even more than 6 months later he becomes hysterical when I try to make him sleep in his own room. I would love to hear what others have done to get through this. Just curious, has she watched Monsters Inc? My daughter went thru this in kindergarten and that was the problem there. Thank Heavens she outgrew it.
I like the spider man jammies idea, will try that one.

[LisaDR]

I haven't had that problem but I think the scare back idea and I have also heard of making a monster spray.
Get a small spray bottle and pretend to make a potion with water. Then before going to bed spray the monster's liars......

[DDAmasa]

My son is almost three and a half and monsters have invaded our house as well. During the day, he's very brave and faces them down pretending to be Spiderman, Superman or the Hulk. But at night, he's just a little boy again. He sleeps in his own room but we often have his toy Hulk and Spiderman standing guard along with his Simba lion and a giant Elmo. Also a nightlight. I know others have tried "monster spray" to clear the room of these pesky monsters.

[annaguat]

A scare back routine was the key for the monsters at our house. Anna

Originally Posted by joepegcamp

My son is almost three and picked up the 'monster in the closet' idea from one of his classmates. That kid picked it up from his good ol' dad. (That kid's birthday is coming up and I'm thinking a set of really loud drums is a great gift, but I digress.)

This is what works for us. It's kinda silly, but he's sleeping in his own room.

1. We scare the monsters away. Open the door and yell BOO! Look under the bed and yell BOO! BOO! the dickens out of the house.

2. A nightlight. It's in a shape of an angel and part of his prayer every night is to ask Lord to have the angel guard him against monsters.

3. Spider Man jammies. (Stop laughing.) We sing the spider man song and talk about the super powers that spider man has to keep monsters away. When he's wearing those jammies, the monster won't get him.

Personally, I think our kid is playing us. Years from now, he's gonna tell this story to someone and say "my parents were soooo gullible." If he turns out to be even semi-famous, I'm sure it will end up in an interview or a book.

[Larue]

We've got those pesky closet monsters too! We open the doors and scare them away too. And then we blast them with some Monster Spray for good measure. For our monster spray, I bought a small plastic spray bottle and made a sign and taped it on, with a few pictures of “not so scary” monsters, like the Abominable Snowman from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And I just fill it up with water. Sabrina always lets me know when we’re getting low on Monster Spray, and Mommy needs to whip up a new batch.

I like Peggy’s Spiderman PJ idea, and singing the song. Very creative.

[dac_cincy]

We use monster lotion at our house. Becuase, you know monsters don't like nice smells like mandrian orange, or passion flower or whatever else I have bought at Bath and Bodyworks.

In the last month I have been able to go to regular lotion, becuase Bug noticed it smells too. So as long as the lotion smells he feels protected. he gets a little on his hands and I put normal amount on me.

Of course, he is sleeping in my bed, so I don't know why I even bother.

Love to you,
Deb

[JustBarbara]

Why just last night we had a ghost in DS's room. He came in to my room at 3am, crying, and crawled into my bed. I got up to open the door to his bedroom and he told me, no, because the ghost was in his room. This morning we opened the door and he showed me where the ghost was. I told him I couldn't see it but he pointed and told me it was 'right there'! I promptly picked up the ghost and together we flushed it down the toilet and told it never to come back. We'll see what happens.

[ej-momtobe]

DS is 3 1/2 and he talks about being scared of monsters. I am not sure if he is really scared of them or just repeats what he has heard from others about monsters, hoping it will delay bedtime (he does not act scared). Anyway, I tell him that the dog (a rottweiler who usually sits outside his bedroom when we are putting him to bed) will protect him, and would certainly not allow a monster into our house. That seems to end the discussion. He has seen the dog chase bunnies, and birds away, so why not monsters? You might try this approach if you have a pet.

[Larue]

Thanks EJ! Great suggestion. Though I don't think our 16-year old arthritic cat would have quite the same affect. I have always wanted a Rottweiler. I had an elderly neighbor years ago, with a female Rottweiler named Bonnie, that I used to walk for her. She was extremely protective, but so gentle at the same time. I just loved that dog.

Originally Posted by ej-momtobe

DS is 3 1/2 and he talks about being scared of monsters. I am not sure if he is really scared of them or just repeats what he has heard from others about monsters, hoping it will delay bedtime (he does not act scared). Anyway, I tell him that the dog (a rottweiler who usually sits outside his bedroom when we are putting him to bed) will protect him, and would certainly not allow a monster into our house. That seems to end the discussion. He has seen the dog chase bunnies, and birds away, so why not monsters? You might try this approach if you have a pet.

[guatparents2be]

i think at this age it is very common to have that fear come up. but i have to say her response is pretty intense.

have you asked her what she thinks will make the monsters go away? i always believe that when the subconscious creates a problem, even in little kids that 1. there is a reason and 2. there is a solution in there as well.

the one thing i would personally be careful of is not to pooh pooh her feelings "oh, there's nothing there, stop overreacting, just lay down" etc. if she's that upset she's not playing you, she's actually terrified.

maybe if you stay in there instead of her coming to your room she'll feel safer and you won't have all that undoing to do??

hugs,
samantha

[TXTennis]

To keep our monster/spider/monkeys out of our room we use our special monster/spider/monkey spray. (Oust)