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Many preschoolers believe there are monsters in the bedroom. Martha recently emailed me asking how to help her four year old son John overcome his fear of monsters at night. She had tried showing her son that there were no monsters under the bed or in the closet but he still screamed at bedtime the moment the lights were out. Martha read through the section The Importance of Bedtime Routine with Children but still had questions so she emailed us for suggestions. The subject of her email was “Help! My child is afraid of monsters!”

We can sympathize with Martha and with John. For him the threat of monsters is quite real and he is scared. For Martha, it is frustrating trying to find a way that everyone can get some sleep. it may help to know that a common sleep problem in toddlers and young children is fear of monsters. There are several things to do to rid the bedroom of the monsters.

The first thing to do is make sure the bedroom is comfortable. Then, either decide on a night light for the bedroom, or leave a light on in hallway. After deciding on the nightlight or hallway light, make sure that there are no scary shadows. Sit in their room or lay on their bed while it is dark to see what your child sees.  Large stuffed animals in the room may look cute during in the daylight but at nightfall they get scary! When my daughter was a toddler she loved the Teletubbies but at night, a Tinky Winky doll terrified her. Either move the toys at night or just keep them in the playroom. If there is a streetlight or porch-light outside the bedroom window, consider light filtering shades to prevent scary shadows. Also consider that car headlights may have the same effect if they can be seen in child’s window at night. Be sure your child’s room is quiet enough and free of spooky noises. A radio on low might also help in case it is noises he is hearing.

The next step is to empower your child. Instead of trying to convince him the monsters are not real, rid the room of monsters. Take a small spray bottle and decorate the bottle with a label that says “Monster Spray” or “Monster Gone”. Fill the bottle with water. A drop or two of scented oil added to the spray can add a little more power to the spray. Lavendar makes a nice choice since it is a soothing and relaxing scent.  Each night, make spraying the room part of the bedtime routine.  It might also help if your child has a special stuffed animal for comfort and company.

You should also examine the shows your child is watching on television, especially those in late afternoon and evening hours. Video games are also another cause of  fears and bad dreams at night. Even an older child may have television shows and video games adversely affect their sleep. It is very important that children wind down at end of day. Reading to them before bedtime is a great way to not only relax but to improve reading skills and foster a love of reading.

The problem of monsters in the bedroom is common but be sure to discuss it with your child’s doctor if you are concerned or it becomes extreme.

This stage, like all the others your child has gone thru, will pass. You are not alone.  If you need more suggestions let us know!