I know, I’m sorry. The image gives me the creepies, too. Try googleing “Spider Nightmares.” It’s AWFUL. But, I am having a real problem and I was hoping someone would have some advice.
Night before last, I woke up to blood curdling screams. I jumped out of bed only to be literally knocked on my butt by a fleeing three year old. Bobo clung to me, screaming and hyperventilating. His stomach was lurching and gurgling; I thought for sure he was going to vomit on me. We sat in a pile on my bedroom floor for what seemed like an eternity before I could get him calm enough to speak.
Me: “Baby, what’s the matter??
BoBo: “THE SPIDER WAS SCREAMING AT ME!!”
He pointed down the hall to his bedroom, amidst his sobs and told me as well as he could about a screaming spider. It broke my heart.
It was about 5:30am, so I just took him out to the living room. There was absolutely no point in trying to put the horrified toddler back to bed. He drank his chocolate milk and regained his composure. We sat cuddled together in the recliner for a long time. He even laughed a little at Spongebob.
Things were okay.
Then he needed to use the bathroom and he refused to go in there by himself.
“There’s a spider!”
This has continued now for 3 days.
The last two nights I’ve had to search his bedroom for spiders before he will go in there to sleep. I have to go with him to the bathroom to assure him there are no creepies waiting for him.
This morning around 5am, I went into his room to check on his coughing brother. I heard BoBo whimpering and thrashing around. He was saying “NO!” I wasn’t sure whether to wake him up or not so I just waited and watched. Thankfully he calmed back down. But it made me sad.
He is different now. He was my fearless one and now this nightmare has interrupted his life and is effecting his daily routines.
I don’t know what (if anything) I can do for him. It’s breaking my heart to see him so afraid.
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Man this is horrible. We’re onto day 6 of our fear of ghosts/monsters in the house. I love Halloween but I’m beginning to resent it. Last night, out of sheer exhaustion, I put my son in my bed to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’ve broken down in tears each day this week. it’s tough and sadly, I haven’t any answers yet, my friend.
I’ve been told that, at this age, in their mind it’s really happening and totally true. So monsters, spiders, or ghosts are honestly huge and big and scary so treat them like they are. Throw them into “jail” or exterminate them with a big production and then don’t bring it back up. This is the suggestion given to me so tonight I’m bring home a box and it’s going to be a trap for the monsters and ghosts. Then I’m throwing it in the trash and I hope my son will be able to let go and sleep.
big hugs!!!
((Hugs)) to you, too. That’s a good idea to make a big extermination project for him. Let m know if the traps work for you.
Another idea, and one that worked with my daughters, was to use a water bottle filled with mostly water but a little scent (such as perfume of yours because that’s a comforting smell to your kiddo) then use it to “exterminate” the room before bedtime or any other time. Just call it spider spray and let him be in control of the spray bottle. Good luck to you. It’s very sad when little ones begin to realize there are some spooky things out there to worry about.
Thank you! I’m going to try this tonight.
Sorry to hear about the nightmares. My son was afraid of dogs because he was knocked down by a huge one when he was little. He didn’t overcome it until we bought a dog and it was around him for a while and he saw it wouldn’t hurt him.
I am not saying by a spider at all (I can’t stand spiders and would never say that – LOL). But there is the old “Face your Fears” tactic that we try to do with our kids. Talk to him about spiders and how they help us, watch videos about how the live and what they eat and assure him that they are harmless.
Hope that helps! It seems to work for me
Kitty
These guys have some good ideas too http://www.fairytalewishesinc.com/store/Default.asp from what I understand their products come with a story to explain how they work to your kiddo and they are kid friendly smells
I hope you figure out something for that poor little poor though, nightmares are awful!
That’s brilliant! Now why can’t I be so smart to think of ideas like that?!
Thanks Amy, I’m going to check them out.
Hah I meant poor little boy, I think my brain fell out for a minute sorry!
I am the Fairytale Wishes mommy!!! I swear my monster repellent works like a charm!!! It smells like bubblegum because monsters are terrified of the smell of bubblegum (in case you didn’t know). Freddy, the magic Fairytale Wishes frog will even write your son a personalized letter telling him why they are so afraid of Bubblegum!
Sherri Shepherd was talking about it on The View a couple of weeks ago!
It really works!!!
All the best,
Debbie Glickman
President, Founder Fairytale Wishes Inc.
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