We moved into our new home approx 3 mos ago. After the first month, my 6 year old son refuses to sleep in his bedroom. He insists there is something 'under the bed' and that he HAS to sleep on the floor in our bedroom, near our bed (apparentley we don't have the same monster under our bed). I have tried a night light, offering to leave the light or TV on but nothing seems to work. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I tried to research it on-line today and it was very difficult to find anything on 6 year olds and sleep issues.
Hi K.,
My name is S.. I have a suggestion that may work. Most boys that age like things like cars or dino's, something along this line. Have hime line them up aroung his bed in a big circle before bedtime tell hime that they will protect him through the night. It worked with someone that I know. Good luck.
I also have a 6 year old and he's still slightly scared of the dark. I've heard about the "Monster Repellent" and I guess it works for some kids. You take a bottle of Febreeze or some other good smelling stuff you can spray on the bed, in closets, or under the bed. Take off the label and write Monster Spray or Monster Repellent or whatever on the bottle. Then when it's time for him to go to bed, either you or him spray under the bed and/or in the closet to keep away whatever's under there. Good Luck!
K.,
My son just turned 7, and normally between 1:30 and 3 he comes into my bed- saying either his is wet- or he heard something- whatever. He is scared of the lady in the Vent. and last night when he came in I put him on the floor- he saw a guy in MY closet- I told him if he didn't like it he could go back to his own room. Anyway, I hope one of the prior suggestions helps you- I know I am having little luck with mine still. I am SO ready for a good night sleep.
If you think he is really scared, please do not use the monster spray! It can be confusing to a child. If mom says that they don't exist then why is there a spray for them? Just reassure him (alot) that there is no such thing as monsters. This probably has more to do with adjusting to the situation, than being scared of monsters. YOu can baby him about it for awhile, but when you've had enough tell him he has to sleep is HIS room. Maybe you camp out on his floor for a couple of nights until he falls asleep?
Have you tried "Monster Spray"? I took a can of air freshener and made my own label that say it gets rid of monsters, etc. Every night before bed I would let Savannah spray her room. It worked (and her room smelled good!)
Hi, K..
I have one suggestion if you're willing. If he insists there is somthing under the bed, then remove the bed and just put his mattress on the floor! Then there the "under the bed" is gone, as is the place for anything to hide. ;) Changing his room around a bit and giving him some say in where things will go might give him more incentive to sleep in there, too.
If he just comes up with another excuse for not sleeping in there, then there might be reasons he wants to be closer to you during the night...
Peace,
K.
Hi,
My daughter is 8 yrs old and has gone through this. We have moved a couple of times and each time she has had to go through a period of adjustment. A new and unfamiliar place can be daunting for a child. Leaving the familiar is hard even for grown ups. A method I used is to lay with her in her bed until she falls asleep. I did this for about a week. The following week I told her it would only be for 5 minutes but I would come back and check on her. This seemed to work for us. We still get the occasional middle of the night visit though. I hope this helped.
Hi K.-
My name is L. and I have a 2 yr old girl and 6 yr old girl. My 6 yr old DOES NOT sleep in her bed. She sleeps anywhere mom is & doesn't care where. Mostly its on the floor next to me. I feel bad, I am all nestled in my bed and she is on my floor, but that's what she chooses.And I have tried everything you have plus putting cable in her room, no go!
I have asked her doctor about this and she says its apart of the childhood experience. If I don't mind then let her sleep on the floor, she is going through separation issues. She wants her independance at school with her friends but at home its still stick to mom. So for now it's ok with me to have her sleep on the floor, it makes her feel better. Even though my husband doesn't like it.
Later down the road I will work on the sleeping issue. No worries, he will want his bed sooner or later.
And maybe you can come up with some ideas to insure that his room is safe. Email me and I can let you know what I have tried.
Goodluck.....
L.
The same thing happened to my youngest. When we moved to our new house and he got his own room, he started being afraid of the dark. If your son can sleep with the light on, try that. I also use prayers to help. We ask God everynight to keep the room clean and free of nightmares. It's like a tailisman. It works for him. Good luck and Happy Holidays.
I went through that with my oldest son and I ended up taking him to pick out a new bed and it ended up being a race car bed with all the bedding to go with it and the problem was solved.
Hope this helps.
A.
In your child's mind something does exist under his bed whether it's his imagination or for real. Your child needs confirmation about his feelings. Let him know that if there were something under your bed you would be scared too. Fear is being afraid of the unknown. Have your child go with you to look under his bed to show you exactly what it is he is scared of and try to come up with a solution together.
I think by not confirming your child's feelings you're allowing the fear to grow and not face what's really bothering him. I think it also shows that by side stepping the problem it will just go away after time. Real life doesn't work like that. At some point you have to face your fears and by going with him at this age it shows that you are genuinely interested in his feelings, you are interested in coming up with a solution together and that he is loved.
My 5 year olds sleep in my room A LOT! Esp. one of them. From what I've read and heard from other people, it is normal, and they will outgrow it. I remember being scared and sleeping on my parents floor for a few months (or year) when I was about that age. I outgrew it :).
Have you tried putting his mattress on the floor in his room? No room for the monster then . . .
Monster SPRAY!!!
We got a water bottle with monster repelant ( colored water) and added it into our night time plan. Get pajamas on, Brush teeth, Spary monster repelant ect... Then we left it on the stand by the bed so my daughter would know it was there. Just in case that pesky monster came back. Just an idea. Hope it helps
Hi K.,
Is he really scared of something or is he using that as an excuse to sleep in your room? My son is 4 and likes to use any excuse to sleep in Mommys room. With my son I use an award chart so that he sleeps in his room. After a week of sleeping in his bed (all night) he gets to have a special treat or do something special. I try and not to give him negative attention, just positive. If he comes to our bed in the middle of the night I just cross of the day on his chart and tell him that he needs to start over. I don't know what to tell you if you think he is acctually scared. Good luck.
Chris
Put the mattress on the floor! Then the monster will be in the closet. Put a light in the closet. Then the monster will be behind the curtain. Take off the curtain. Then he comes out when the door is shut. Take off the door. This lets him still be the boss of something and lets him know you are listening to his problems. I know I am quirky but the little guy has a new room, a new house and feels he has no controll.
