My 2 Year Old Is Afraid of Everything!

this may not be the best solution for you, but why not try and make up something. like you saw something and then get your 2 year old to go with you so that she can see what it was and that it isn't anything to be afraid of. do this a couple times and maybe she'll start to understand that everything she sees isn't going to get her. she'll be more inclined to find out what it was than be afraid of it. and of course something you've probable already taken care of, but i'd have a talk with the 7 year old and explain to her that it isn't nice to scare her sister. hope this might help.

Here's my opinion. I would sit down the other two sisters and tell them how fearful they maker her by telling her things like that and that they will have to face consequences if they continue to say such things that arent true because it is lying and it makes their sister afraid. Let them explain to their sister that they were not telling her the truth. Let her sleep with a night light for awhile and see if things change. If the little one hears it come from her sisters she may be more likely to believe it. It doesnt hurt to try it.

Hello L. M,

Have u tryed a night light in her room? Or a radio? My son was the same way when he was that young as well,and we try the night and a radio and told him as long as the light and radio was on whatever he seemed to think was in his room would be scared of the noise and light.& It worked well, it's been yrs since he has had to have a night night but cant go to sleep without the radio on all night,(but im the same way with radio on at night) so maybe that's where he gets that from.Hope this helps and she grows out of it.
Yr friend,
J. P.

If I were you, I would sit the 7 year old down and calm her fears down. Then I would ask her that she not share her fears with her two younger sisters. Her telling your 2 year old that things are under the bed, ect. is what started the problem. Once that stops you can start by calming down your 2 year old and getting her to realize that there is nothing to be afraid of. Try being in a room alone with her doing something like watching tv together, folding clothes... and then "go to the bathroom." Leave her room for minutes at a time and see her reaction. Do this often. Stay gone for a minute, then a couple more, than 5.... until she forgets about the "gremlin" :) under the bed.
If you don't want to take that route, try the reward system although then you will have to let her know you are going to be leaving her and that if she can stay by herself without fussing, she will get a treat. That always seems to work with my girls!!!! Good luck!

PS Don't forget to get on the floor with her and look under the bed. SHOW her that there is nothing there!

my 2 year old just started talking about monsters because my son started to talk to her about them............put off doing anything with you 2 year old for now. Work on your 7 year old and explain to her that she knows these things don't exist and that 2 year olds can't understand this......it may just be a brotherly love scaring tactic :) Kids do that - it's just part of being a kid. The work with your 2 year old by explaining that these things don't exist - remember that to her Dora is a real person so whe doesn't have the concept of real vs fantasy yet. Go in her room with all the lights on before bed time and show her that there is nothing there and talk to her about that - maybe a night light in her room will help for now. hope these ideas help.

L.

I have a 3 yr old son that has just recently started saying that everything will get him. His biggest fear BABIES. Go figure he is still one himself, but show him a doll or even if he hears one he starts whimpering baby will get you. He says it about a few other things too but I have been going through a lot of what you mention. Thanks to my husband he now sleeps with us and when he is gone on jobs it takes everything I have to get him to go to bed alone. I have tried making him face his fears and it made it worse. I am now just comforting him and telling him that nothing is going to get him. I won't let it. It works for a little while. I also try and change the subject and sometimes he forgets he was ever afraid. I am sure what causes most of these fears are the fact they can't understand them yet. I try to tell him what is real and what is fake and now when he gets scared he tells me, Momma its not real. I have babbled on a lot and not really given you answers but don't worry too much I think it is more of a stage and comfort and assurance is probable your best bet. Just my opinion and hey don't feel alone I know several mothers with the same situations.

HI L.,

It seems most kids at one point or another go through this, whether instigated or not. Have you tried let's go through the closets at night and see if we see anything? Have you done the nightlights? Also you can give her a pretend anything from you and say this necklace or ring, or whatever protects you from all of the night scary creatures. You can leave her door open at night and leave the hallway light on. You can also put some nice soothing classical music on to calm her. If you have a Wholefoods there are a lot of things that are natural for children that will relax them, like lavendar oil.

And then you can say mommy and daddy are right in the next room to protect. If you believe in God/Jesus, tell her Jesus is always watching over her and will protect her when she's scared.

Gosh I could go on and on. But I hope some of these suggestions help and not offend. It will work it self out and things will be back to normal. Just thought of a funny one: Have the two year old, put something inthe 7 yo room like a stuffed animal attached to a string and see how she likes it. This may break the straw!

God Bless you and your family.

D.

Sept. 15, 2007

Hi! L.:

I think your 7-year-old daughter is the one needs to undo your 2-year-old daughter's fear.

Fear is most difficult thing to get rid of. Good luck !!!

Best regards,

Fu-mei