Night Time

Please don't get a tv for her room. All of those images right before she goes to sleep would probably make her nightmares worse.

Three of my six children suffered from what our doctor called night terrors.Consoling her, leading her back to bed, and maybe turning on some easy listening music and maybe a night light, could be something to try. I am a Christian so I lead them to bed, told them "God has not given you a Spirit of fear". Put Veggie Tales (CD) on, and sat NEXT to the bed. I don't think the television is a good idea so young. I didn't allow my children to have a television in their room until they were much older and it's only to be turned on for DVD's and with permission.I hope this was helpful...many blessings.

HI M.,

I'm a 44 yr old Mom of 3,ages 23,18, and 4 3/4. Yes I'm crazy.
If this is your first, have no fear all kids go through different types of issues. 1st I think putting a TV in your childs room, is a big no no. Been there, done that, not good. Keep your family close in a main area. Sometimes a little ritual at bedtime in regards to her late night problems. We went through some our selves. We would make a special wand and at night time, we would walk around the room saying a little chant of like no monsters etc etc etc. If she believes her room is free of any bad things she may not have any more issues. My youngest used to have a lot of bad dreams. I bought a dream catcher and hung it over her bed (it's still there)and I explained that the dreamcatcher catches all the bad dreams. So she can sleep better with just happy dreams. She believes it. On the nights that a bad one gets through, I tell her that she must have had a lot of them, and this one must have slipped through the cracks. But I certainly don't point it out if she doesnt. Another idea is we also gave her a little clock radio by her bed, she listens to music and seems to help her sleep and keep her mind off other things.

Anyway I hope this helps or gives you some ideas.
Suz

I tell you what helped us was that I got a cd player and set it right next to her bed. I made a CD that has a LOT of bedtime short stories (like Green Eggs Ham) and songs (like you are my sunshine). It is a very long CD. I do not turn it up too loud, she has to be really quiet to hear it. I don't use it every night only if she wakes up during the night and she is old enough now (just turned 6) that she can turn it on herself. She has had this CD player since she was about 4.

Like you, no TV's. I like for them to listen and use their imagination when listening to stories or songs. Keeps the mind busy on the not so scary things.

I totally understand the option not to have a tv in her room. however may i suggest getting an aquarium that way it is not as dim as a night light, but it's not as bright as the regular light and it is calming. I purchase a small artificial one for my sone because he too was afraid of the dark. Also if u continue to sleep with her she will never get use to sleeping by herself. i just got my daughter to sleep in her own room and she is 4....lol.

I know this is a late post but she might be having nightmares, my daughter has been having aweful nightmares since she was a baby shes had night terriors. she especially has them when something has changed like when daddy goes out of town she never sleeps well. I have a Cd player in my daughters room that plays on repeat all night long so theres a constant noise in her room its a lullaby cd and it helps her get to sleep and stay there. Theres no interruption of sound so if there is a storm or the wind is blowing hard it dosnt disturb her because theres already noise in her room. she also has 2 nightlights one on each side of the room .

Hi M.,

When I was a little girl, I had a great fear of the man who lived in my closet. When my dad came in the room to tell me good night, together we would check under the bed, in the closet, around corners, etc., to check for any "bad guys." When I saw there were none, then I was finally able to get some sleep. Maybe this will help your daughter!

Hi M.,

I would have to agree with you. If you put a TV in her room I believe you would just be opening yourselves up for other issues. The only thing she probably needs is reassurance for a bit. I have a 2 1/2 yr old and a 4 yr old and I went through all of this with them. they do out grow it. Plus there is just too many "bad" aspects to putting a TV in a childs room... especially at that age. Sometimes it helps to talk to your child at bedtime and give them assurance. maybe find them a stuffed animal that can help "protect" them in the night or some other comfort item. My daughter (who is 2) just recently came off of waking me up in the middle of the night for many many nights in a row for "a kiss and a hug". it was cute at first. now it's just too much. I had a chat with her at bedtime and told her she needed to get her kisses and hugs right now because we both need our sleep. knock on wood it seems to be working. so I would try talking to her at bedtime and get her involved in the solution for her night scares. and if she does still wake up, just remind her that if that happens, all you are going to do is take her back to bed and tuck her in and then you'll go back to bed. it would appear that she is getting exactly what she wants -- your attention AND you sleeping with her.

All of my kids went through a funk at this age- we found the better solution to be setting up a little bed every night in our room- our kids would go to bed like usual but if they had issues then they could come into our room and out themself to bed on the floor on the bed I premade. Atleast this way we were all still sleeping every night. Of course we encouraged them to stay in their own room and eventually they did again. Sleeping in their own bed all night was the normative the migrating to our room in the middle of the night to sleep was temporary. I will say that I had one daughter that this temp thing lasted about 6 months but it was on and off.
Also we do not do scary things in our home- I am not sure if you do but if you do I would probably nich all scarey things/magic anything that may fall into that category for a while. Hope that helps and I agree with you- no tv in kids rooms- causes lots of problems!!!

Hi M., Our 2 yr. old little boy has started sometimes saying, "Mama, it's scary." I don't know what he means and he can't verbalize that is "scary" to him. We have played the same lullaby CD for him since he was an infant...also, I found at Kirkland's in Augusta, a thing that looks like a flat screen tv set that has a scrolling picture. It has realistic animals on it and it gives off quite a bit of light (he also has a UGA night light as well in his room). Logan loves going to sleep with his "aminals" and his music. This seems to drown out any "house" noises and any outside noises as well. I always go in his room before we go to bed and turn off the animal light box as well as the CD. Hope this helps!!