There's a Monster Under My Bed!

Easing Toddler's Nighttime Fears

By Lyn Mettler

"Monsters" can come from a variety of places even news events that you discuss while in the presence of your child. Watching what you say in front of your children is crucial.

"There are lots of monsters," says Alice Honig, professor emeritus of child development at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y. "It's amazing what kids get scared about."

Since the terrorist attacks on September 11, toddlers also have a whole new "monster" to be afraid of, according to Fern Reiss, author of Terrorism and Kids: Comforting Your Child. "The traditional 'monster under the bed' has, for many toddlers, turned into 'terrorist under the bed,'" she says.

One way to prevent such a fear is by monitoring what your children watch on TV. According to Reiss, a study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that children were fearful directly in proportion to how much they saw about September 11 on TV. Keep in mind also that even movies or characters that seem harmless to you might scare your kids. "Even though they're cartoons, and they don't look like real people, sometimes kids get shaken up by this stuff," says Dr. Cohen.

And storybooks aren't always all innocent fun either. When you really think about it, some of those tales are pretty terrifying. Grandma getting eaten by a wolf; a baby falling from a tree; Hansel and Gretel about to get baked in an oven? Not quite fodder for sweet dreams. Pay attention to what you're reading, and try to look at the stories from your child's perspective.

You also want to avoid yelling or fighting in front of your child. This can frighten your toddler and show up at night as well. "They could have a bad dream just from the monster of family emotions," says Honig.

Now you know what can cause the fears. But what do you do when your child just won't go to sleep?

Most experts suggest leaving the door slightly open or turning on a nightlight to calm little ones' anxieties. You might also try playing soothing music, especially to hide the sometimes creepy noises of a creaking house. Make sure that you have a regular bedtime routine, and be sure not to get your child worked up with rough play or other activities before bed.

Want to see more?

• See what Mike Kettler, Dad of the Month for June, did to help his daughter get over her fear of monsters here!
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