Toddler afraid to go to sleep

My daughter, Hannah (26 months), is now afraid to go to sleep at night. About 2 weeks ago, she was woken up by thunderstorms. Ever since then she has been very wary of the window in her room. She and her sister sleep in toddler beds, Hannah's is positioned so that her head is almost under the window.

The problem has been getting progressively worse, with a culmination last night of absolute hysteria all night long. She absolutely refused to get into her bed. We ended up putting her in bed with us after midnight so that we could get some sleep, but I don't want that to be the solution.

Tonight, I'm going to reposition her bed so that her head faces her sister, away from the window. I'll do this with her in the room so she can be part of the action. Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions from moms and dads who have been there, done that?

Thanks! SharonB

 

BTDT. I had to stay in DS's room with him until he fell asleep. The storms scared him too. I would progressivly move farther and farther away from his bed each night. Took about a month. THere will be setbacks. Then I moved into a sticker chart for every night I didn't have to be in his room to fall asleep.
Good luck!

 

My 3 1/2 yo is going through something very similar. In fact, I was coming on here to ask what to do!! He was woken up by a dream. A dream of a man looking in his window at him. Ever since (going on about 3 weeks), he is terrified to go to sleep. I have been wondering if he is really afraid or just playing me. But I truly think he is afraid, and that makes me so sad! I can't send him to bed scared, so he stays up with me and eventually falls asleep in my bed (DH works nights...takes him to his bed when he gets home).

So, I'm sorry that I don't have any useful advice for you. But wanted to share that you are not alone. ((hugs))

 

Sharon :hug99: It wasn't ever THAT bad! I'm not quite sure what I would do. We always tell them it's "just Mr. Brown Making thunder" and make light of it when possible.

I would move her bed as you said and tell her that you will check on her in 5 min. then check on her after a few min. Then tell her you'll check again? I don't know. Short of sitting in there (I started that for other reasons and don't think it's a good solution for US) I'm not sure. I would also ask my pedi because she usually has good ideas about that stuff!

 

Hi everyone! I will be in here around the later part of June. Our girls will be 1 on the 23rd. I just wanted to give a suggestion.

With having 3 older kids I have gone through this before. Our 4 year old use to have a fear of sleeping in the dark. I started praying for her everynight out loud and as I pray for her she hears that I am asking God to protect her from bad dreams or nightmares. She hasn't given us a lick of problems since I started this and it has been 2 years now. I still pray over her and I pray about her days and peaceful nights of sleep.

I just thought that this might help!
Meshell

 

:hug99: Let us know how it goes. Sounds like you have a handle on it, so good luck!