Sleep Issues - Novato, CA

When you say your husband is new to the area, is it your son's father or did you remarry? Changes in the household change toddler's behaviours. Is something going on that is different in the house. Does your husband work nights and come home and check on him at that time? If there are any changes, it manifests with behaviour changes, sleep issues etc. because toddlers do not know how to express their frusteration or anger. Something has changed to scare him, find out what it is and address it. Good luck.

normal for that age. great ideas offered! my son went through it as well as other friends. it will pass just as many other challenges we have had with them. good luck & good sleep!

Both of mine hit a phase in the three year with monsters/ghosts. If it's monsters.... I had them help write a sign on for their doors "NO Monsters allowed in ______'s Bedroom". Then we taped it up. I also sprayed "anti-monster spray" around the room before saying goodnight (water in a bottle... but the youngest went for pretend spray of my hand!). Make sure the shadows in the room aren't scary as well. After awhile this went away too!

Good luck!

put something he finds comforting in the room with him-a positive happy picture,a cross-i'm not terribly religious,but have had sleeping problems because of negative spiritual energy-it helped.

Hi N.,

This is the age when they sometimes have bad dreams and decide that their room is scary. My daughter went through this and it's very frustrating to say the least! I used an empty spray bottle and told her it was filled with magic spray that takes the scary stuff away from her room. I would "spray" it around the room and sing a little song about sending them away. She liked that. Also, maybe a trusted stuffed animal that he could rely on to "guard" him and protect him while he sleeps might help. Sometimes telling him to think happy thoughts of whatever he likes might help him go to sleep.

Good Luck!

A picture of Jesus Christ hanging above her heard, one of MY stuffed animals and one of my hair ribbons to sleep with, a night light, and a consistent routine helped my daughter. We also have sleep appropriate music on in the background for her as well.

Nikki C is absolutely correct about changes in family life or to the environment changes the behavior in a child. They do not have the ability to express their feelings yet.

Love the No Monster Spray idea!!

We bought a noisemaker that projects a little rotating picture on the ceiling. It is by Homedics and we got it at Target for $25. Sort of a cheesy little machine, but it helps us a lot with the night wakings. It gives our 3 1/2 year old son something to concentrate on (other than the scary darkness!)

Good luck!