- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preschoolers today articles
- preschoolers today q&a
- children today articles
- children today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Expert Q&A
 |  |  |
| By Susan Bartell Licensed Psychologist | ||
 |
My 3-year-old cannot sleep because he's worried about ghosts and monsters. What can I do to help?
First, rest assured that developmentally, it is normal for children between 3 and 5 to experience these type of fears, especially at night. The best way to help your child is to encourage him to talk to you about the things that make him scared. As he talks, you may discover that he is not really fearful of ôghosts and monsters,ö but rather that he is discovering that the world is not always a perfectly safe and protective place. Your job as his parent is to reassure him that he is secure in his home and that you are careful to always keep him safe. Give him specific examples such as locking the doors at night, having safety screens on the windows, holding his hand to cross the street and making sure he sits in his car seat. Resist the urge to deny his fears or tell him that he has no reason to be upset. This will only serve to send him the message that you don't believe him, or worse, that you too are fearful and unable to help him overcome his fears. It is also important to be conscientious about monitoring your child's TV and movie viewing to try and reduce the possibility of him seeing things that could scare him.
Dr. Susan Bartell
www.havinganotherbaby.com
Related Expert Q&A
- How do I keep my 3 1/2-year-old twins in their beds at night?
- Can you tell me what the correct amount of sleep is for a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old?
- My 3-year-old cannot sleep because he's worried about ghosts and monsters. What can I do to help?
- My 3-year-old wakes up one to three times a night andcomes into our bed. What can I do?
- My 3-year-old son has problems sleeping by himself. What should I do?
More Answers by this Expert
- My 5-month-old son wakes up every half-hour after 4 a.m. How do I get him out of this routine?
- We have a 7-month-old and are expecting our second child. They will be 14 months apart. Do we need a second crib?
- I have 1-year-old twins and another baby on the way. Is it OK to have all three children in the same room?
- One of infant twins is suffering from colic, and they share a room. Should I separate them?
- What are your thoughts about allowing a 5-year-old to continue to sleep with his parents instead of her own bed in her own room?
