problems at bedtime

[reneegavin]

I have another problem with my daughter.  Over the past 2 months, we have had to remove almost everything from my 4 year old daughter's room (stuffed animals, dolls, alarm clock, etc).  She wakes up in the middle of the night or won't go to bed, because she thinks they are going to move.  Now, since there's hardly anything left, she thinks the carpet is going to move, and wants us to take it out.  If she hears a car or wind outside, she wants us to make it stop.  I understand children have vivid imaginations, but nothing we do calms her down.  She awakens several times a night for long periods of time, and me and my husband are both completely exhausted.  We have tried everything except letting her sleep with us, which she has never done, and I do not want to start now.  She will also not allow anything new in her room, so a radio or anything like that is out of the question.  Any suggestions before it's just her and her bed?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This, too, will pass. I know this may not be very reassuring to you, but nighttime fears are common at this age. You are correct in not allowing your daughter to sleep with you. Do the reasonable things to reassure her and help her feel safe, without fueling her worry that there is actually any danger being posed. And don't worry about using some illumination in her room to take the dge off those shadows. She will ultimately sleep through those moments when now she is waking up.

[smegy]

my three year old son also has a very vivid imagination when it comes to bed time.he see's everything from men in his room to the stickers on his wall moving and also the light moves.during the day he will play in his room and dose not mention these things only at bed time.