26Mo Afraid of His Bed?

I think a lot of this has to do with the fact that your son hasn't had a regular schedule because of the trip, and then he's been ill. It can be difficult to keep (or get back) equilibrium, and it often shows up at night.

Last Christmas one of my granddaughters went through that sort of thing. She was a little cranky during the day, but then would scream - and eventually throw up - every night. This lasted just a few days, but it seemed longer.

I don't know how old your son is. I do like the monster spray idea, if he's really afraid of something. And you can get a new night light (or check at the hotel to see if they found the other one) if if helps him. Try playing soft music in his room, too. But you may just have to work with it a little while until he gets over this hump. As your boy feels better, gets back on a regular routine, and gets a little more TLC from Mama, he'll sleep better. (So will you.)

He sounds like he is coming down with something to me. I could always tell in child care because things like this would start. Let him have some extra attention and that way you can keep an eye on his temperature too.

M.:

Contact the hotel - they might have the night light in lost and found or in house keeping and they can mail it back to you.

Even though it's been two weeks - he could be off-kilter from the vacation and then being sick. If, during his sickness, he was in bed with you - he might have become accustomed to sleeping in your bed...

Don't battle this with him - ask him why he doesn't want to sleep in his bed.

If you turn this into a battle - it won't be pretty. Take a deep breath and talk with (not to - but with) him about this. Don't give/feed him ideas as to why he doesn't want to sleep in his bed - Johnny - why don't you want to sleep in your bed? Not - Johnny are you afraid of your bed? See the difference?

Since he's been sick - get back into your normal schedule...

It will get better! Being out of schedule sucks.

Contact the hotel and tell them you forgot his night light and ask them to mail it back to you.

He could be starting night terrors. Make up some monster spray and spray it around his bed and by the window and door. Have him watch you while you do this and keep saying mosters can't cross this it will scare them or burn their feet or whatever works for your child. Tell him it will work for a week so every Saturday you will have to spray some more.

Ideas on how to make monster spray:

I used a trigger spray bottle with water and a couple squirts of my colone and sprayed his room.

A friend of mine used air freshner and made a label that said Monster Spray and taped it over the can label. Just print it off the computer, wrap the can and tape. As long as her kids could smell the air freshner they knew they were safe.

He could also be simply recovering from the combination of a vacation and the flu. But hey monster spray is an easy fairly inexpensive thing to try.

I had this with my 3 year old years ago. I decided to make her a bed on the floor next to us. She slept there a few nights until she felt able to choose her own room again. She had been sick and we had been visiting lots of people in the weeks leading up to her refusal to sleep.
The same thing happened five years later. Again she was ill. We used the same technique and she moved back in with her sister a couple of days later.