There's a Monster Under My Bed!

Easing Toddler's Nighttime Fears

By Lyn Mettler

If the child still insists that there's a monster under the bed, stay calm and reassure him. Say things like, "It's OK to fall asleep. We'll be nearby," and "Mommy and Daddy are much stronger than any monster, and we'll protect you."

"If parents are not afraid, the child doesn't have to be afraid," says Dr. Cohen.

Dr. Cohen also advises letting the child talk, sing or even draw a picture about it. Ask the child how he can make the monster friendlier. Maybe he's a scary, green color, and the toddler can make him pink or even give him a silly name. "The child sees that he has some control over the situation," says Dr. Cohen. For Flora, letting her daughters draw a picture helps her to better understand exactly what it is that they're afraid of, especially when they're having difficulty articulating it. Sometimes it turns out to be as simple as a shadow.

Experts also caution parents to keep the child from getting in their bed, particularly if they want him to develop a habit of sleeping in his own room. Sleeping with Mom and Dad can be a difficult habit to break. A better option, says Dr. Cohen, is to sit with the child in his own bed.

Some toddlers may also begin experiencing what are called "night terrors" at this age, which can be very frightening for parents and may warrant a doctor's visit. Tami Wiese, a 39-year-old mother from Champlin, Minn., woke up one night to a full tantrum by her then 15-month-old son, Tanner. When she went to his room, he was screaming and thrashing violently all while seemingly in a trance. "The more we tried to calm him down the worse it got," she says. Her pediatrician told her that Tanner was having a "night terror."

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!
• Recommended Reading List
• Toddler Terrors
• Halloween Nightmares in Disguise
• Lights Out! Getting Your Preschooler to Bed
• Talk about it!