Toddler Scared of Bugs

Updated on June 02, 2007
R.P. asks from Kodak, TN
5 answers

My 2 yr. old daughter is so scared of bugs that every time she sees one, she screams at the top of her lungs. She wakes up in the middle of the night (sometimes) screaming and acting like there is something on her. Any suggestions on how to help her overcome this would help tremendously.

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

Sometimes little kids are phobic about certain things, but they grow out of it. My stepson was terrified of scarecrows when he was little.
Try exposing her to insects where she's in control of the situation - maybe go to a hardware store and buy some crickets in a cage so that she can hear them sing and can see they can't hurt her. Books about insects would be good too, especially ones that explain things like how bugs help plants grow. And of course, explain to her how some bugs are ok to touch and handle and some aren't, just like some other animals and even plants are ok to touch and others aren't. She'll eventually grow out of it.
I'd also stay away from sci-fi and cartoons that feature insectoid villains, as this will likely only add to her fear.

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D.W.

answers from Baton Rouge on

I had a teacher once that said when the boogyman came out from underneath her son's bed she'd shoot it with one his play guns and her son would just go back to bed with no problem b/c he knew it had to be dead=)

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C.C.

answers from Little Rock on

My husband and I teach wilderness classes, and come across many children with the same issue. I would recommend one of those bug vaccumes. They can suck up a bug at a distance and have a clear chamber so you can see the bugs. Some of them come with little bug playgrounds that you can put them in once they are caught. By allowing your little one to see bugs in a more harmless context it should acclimate her to them. You might also get a few books on bug identification. Make it a game and make her more aware of her natural environment at the same time. After all we are all more afraid of the unknown.

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H.P.

answers from Jonesboro on

Hi,
Well I am thinking that is a phase mine were all like that too.What I did was calmed them down and explained that certain ones were ok I even held them...lol...it seemed ladybugs were the worst.I don't know if it was the color that scared them or what.after holding them and telling them it was ok they were no longer called ladybugs they were buggykays....I also found books that were about bugs that were kid based those also seemed to help...I know it is not fun when they are scared to death but that was the best way I could think of at the time hope it helps you.....H.

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L.H.

answers from Fayetteville on

Hi! Both of my boys went through that too. Once I had to pull over on a busy interstate to get a fly out of the backseat, lol!! My second child wasn't as bad because he had big brother to explain it to him(not sure why he listened to brother more than mommy, but he did). I just had to explain that they wouldn't hurt you and after a few weeks both of them were okay. Hope this helps. : )

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