https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 02:51:52 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping/page/2#post-2909043 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:08:03 +0000 wrkbrk 2909043@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: Actually after the first day I didn’t miss it at all. I was shocked. But my worry is that once I put the app back on my phone I’ll go down the rabbit hole again!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping/page/2#post-2909042 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:00:51 +0000 peaches1038 2909042@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I miss you too!! Has it been difficult?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909037 Sun, 26 Jan 2020 10:04:48 +0000 wrkbrk 2909037@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: That is correct ;) I will post a pic cause it's enormous. Also I miss you on IG! One more week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909008 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 15:01:34 +0000 peaches1038 2909008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: hahah amazon to the rescue! Good luck!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909006 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:15:23 +0000 wrkbrk 2909006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: Thanks mama! He does not - thankfully - wake up over night. It had just become the biggest struggle to get him to fall asleep. I have tried staying til he falls asleep and he just won’t do it. Cries instead. 🤦🏻‍♀️ I figured out that a lunar new year story with a scary dragon he has been hearing at school might be part of the culprit. So, you’ll be happy to note that a SUPER FRIENDLY stuffed dragon is on its way to us. 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909005 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 14:12:02 +0000 peaches1038 2909005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: all that stuff I mentioned works but not always. I will rub his back and sing songs until he falls asleep sometimes too. But once he’s asleep, he rarely wakes up. Does C? Could you sit in his room but in a chair until he falls asleep? Or have you tried the moshi sleep stories? The free one works really well for h. I’m sorry he’s so scared!!!! You’re doing a great job! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909003 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 12:24:29 +0000 crazydoglady 2909003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gummy melatonin! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2909002 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 11:21:07 +0000 Petitduck 2909002@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: unbribeable kids are crummy! Lol. We’re having sleep issues with our 2.5 year old currently (different to this though. Goes to sleep solo no problem) and bribes don’t work at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908998 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 08:17:54 +0000 wrkbrk 2908998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Petitduck: Right?! Now if I were a kid I’d be thrilled to go pick out a new stuffie and night light. When I cried at bedtime way back in the 80s my parents did zilch ;) But my son’s response was, “no danks.” 😒 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908997 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 08:06:09 +0000 Petitduck 2908997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: maybe a certain amount only? I think I see that suggested on here somewhere. “I’ll come and check on you three times and then you need to let your body rest” for example. And lots of reinforcing during the day about bedtime expectations and talking through potential fears or upset in the day, in a neutral space and frame of mind can be helpful. Go shopping for a new special nighttime snuggle buddy? Although nothing is as good as your parent. Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908994 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 21:25:01 +0000 wrkbrk 2908994@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908993 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:28:49 +0000 MrsSRS 2908993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>CVS from the kid medicine aisle. </p> [attach=6368/20/q4n2s1.450x600.15799156586581541594672773319908.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908992 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:27:09 +0000 wrkbrk 2908992@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: Do you remember what brand you have? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908991 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:12:11 +0000 wrkbrk 2908991@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: Yes! And it sounds so rational!!! I’m glad H was able to put those suggestions into effect. I don’t think C is there yet. All he says is, it didn’t work!!!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ Yes to checks only when he’s quiet. I’m going to do that too. My therapist said to let him “leave your eyes open all night!” if that makes it better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908990 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:10:37 +0000 wrkbrk 2908990@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Petitduck: It is so frustrating! Haha. I may offer something like this - unlimited hugs or checks or something until he gets out of this phase?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908989 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:10:30 +0000 MrsSRS 2908989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I'm a big fan of its temporary use to help reset those sleeping patterns. It was a godsend for one of my littles. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908988 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 20:09:13 +0000 wrkbrk 2908988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsSRS: my own therapist uses melatonin for her five year old. We may give it a try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908966 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:55:48 +0000 Petitduck 2908966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: my kid just did this before she turned 4. Has always been super independent to go to sleep and with no issues. Anyway, there were tears and crying and lots of excuses and it was really annoying to me. Haha. </p> <p>So I started saying I’ll stay for 5 minutes and give you how ever many hugs and kisses you want and then I’m leaving. And that’s what either me or my husband do. I think it’s likely a more overactive imagination for my kid now and also that there are two younger siblings taking attention from her. It has probably been about 6 months of it and it totally solved the problem and I don’t always need to stay the 5 minutes if I’m solo putting them to bed or something. I think the hugs and kisses number gave her some control and the whole thing is brief and gave her clear boundaries. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908962 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:05:17 +0000 MrsSRS 2908962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@peaches1038: yes to teaching the coping strategies! And, with pediatrician approval, we paired this with a dose of kids melatonin from CVS for a little while. Because adequate sleep is a health issue. And a bonus positive reinforcement for practicing the calming techniques because they "worked" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908957 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 11:07:19 +0000 peaches1038 2908957@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Poor guy! H went through this too, but not to this level. </p> <p>You’ve probably already tried this, but giving H strategies to work through it himself was what helped him the most. So rather than me saying “that’s not real or that won’t happen”, we talked about ways he could help himself feel better. I told him that when I feel scared, I say to myself “I’m feeling scared now. But I’m safe in my bed and monsters/whatever ARE NOT REAL!” We always encouraged him to say it in a *powerful* voice. Then we would give him actionable things to do: take a drink of water, find his favorite stuffy and give it 3 big hugs, take 3 big breaths and blow it out slowly, count to 10, think of something that makes him feel really happy, etc. This worked really well for him and he often will tell me, oh I had a bad dream last night but I thought about getting ice cream with you and I felt better!” We did practice these “lines” and strategies when it was not nighttime too. </p> <p>Another thing that helped was telling him that I will come check on him when he’s calm and quiet. I wouldn’t do that if he was hysterical or truly upset, but just if he was delaying with saying he is scared. It was easy to tell the difference with H. So at first, I would come back after just a minute and then it got longer and longer. Most of the time, he was already asleep when I got back. I also only go in once. </p> <p>Also, is there something he could pick out for his room that would comfort him? Like a special nightlight that he picks out or even a “bad dream spray” like lavender or an action figure or stuffed dinosaur that scares the bad things away? </p> <p>This got super long, but I hope it helps a little and I really hope you guys all get some sleep soon!! 💚💚💚💚 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908949 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 10:18:54 +0000 ALV91711 2908949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: He was fine and just went back to his room. Last week he tried to sleep in our room by saying he didn’t think he was going to have good dreams! I gave him an extra cuddle and he was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908941 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 09:00:54 +0000 wrkbrk 2908941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That would be DS setting up camp on our sofa 😒 </p> [attach=5342/20/q4m6xj.450x600.8F9E4D9F-B3AA-4C6A-A729-1AF0B25B5281.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908940 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:59:24 +0000 wrkbrk 2908940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PinkElephant: Thank you for sharing. At least I’m not alone! I don’t yike this! 😂 Oh my heart! He has a baby gate so he is contained but similar to your daughter, I was actually worried he might hurt himself or stop breathing he was so wound up. He naps at school......we’ve tried no naps on the weekends but it didn’t seem to make much difference. The ped said try to find books on being lonely, going to bed, etc. But I have to say I’m not that hopeful. This is the first “thing” we’ve had with him where neither bribes NOR consequences worked 😭 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908939 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:56:42 +0000 wrkbrk 2908939@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yerpie110: Haha! We do! But they’re too old to do the stairs unfortunately. We have 2 now (17 and 14), down from 4 somewhat recently. But that’s a good idea ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908938 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:55:53 +0000 wrkbrk 2908938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ALV91711: And how did he take it when the week was up? DS slept on the sofa last night 🤦🏻‍♀️ But of course that can’t be permanent! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908936 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:47:35 +0000 yerpie110 2908936@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a dog? When my oldest went through a similar phase around that age, we trained our dog to stay on her bed (and would get him after she was asleep). That way she was not alone and since she knows he's a pretty good watch dog, we talked up his abilities. It was a perfect solution. Obviously if you don't have a pet, this won't be helpful... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908934 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:41:03 +0000 erinbaderin 2908934@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: @PinkElephant: I know, I have no defence against "I don't want to be alonely" because it's too cute. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908925 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 23:06:18 +0000 PinkElephant 2908925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Solidarity. Mine is younger (not yet 3.5), but oh.my.goodness. have we been having awful awful awful nighttime sleep. She's still in a crib, so she can't get out, and I won't even attempt to transition her to a bed til we are over this hump. She has some articulation issues, so for us it is a lot of screaming and repeating "Wanna go in YOUR BED" and refusing to let go of my arm. She is persistent beyond CIO being a possibility - she keeps the entire house awake. She is afraid of the dark, afraid of the fan, afraid of the door being closed, afraid of the Elsa nightlight she had to have....The only thing that has worked so far is cutting her nap. When I do that, she's too exhausted at bedtime to protest, so she just passes out - though she still insists on having all the lights on. I do think she's genuinely scared, but I'm not willing to commit to having her sleep with me indefinitely. We used to let her sleep in another crib in our room, but DH put an end to that (he hid the crib in his closet; when she found it we told her it was "broken," haha). She has various nightlights, Twinkle Pals, etc....and will constantly tell me "I no yike this!"</p> <p>I remember my middle daughter being not great at sleep around 3-3.5 as well, and she wasn't in a crib...at one point we gated her room (but she just learned to pop the lock on her jack &amp; jill bathroom and went out through her sister's room, haha). She's 5.5+ now, and while she's still the kid most likely to visit me at 2 AM, she doesn't pull this junk at bedtime at all. So there's definitely an end. And it was months, not years, I promise!</p> <p>@erinbaderin: he wins the prize for the cutest sleep protest (well, cute b/c I'm not the one he's doing it to)! I mean, who wants to be "aloney"? :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908920 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 22:13:32 +0000 ALV91711 2908920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 6.5 and has gone through this more than once and most recently this summer. For a long time time around 4-5 he slept in our guest room but now we have DS2 and no guest room. I really didn’t care if he slept in there as long as he slept. This summer when he went through it I made a nest of blankets and pillows on our bedroom floor for him to sleep on. We gave him one week and then he had to go sleep in his room again. It seemed to work, he hasn’t been back! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/four-year-old-suddenly-terrified-of-sleeping#post-2908917 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 21:49:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2908917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Champagne: This sounds reasonable. Except tonight I tried to sit and hold his hand as long as his eyes were closed and he couldn’t go more than 2 minutes without hyperventilating crying - you know the kind I mean. It is just awful. But I can’t sit by his bed all night long! And he can’t cosleep every night. One problem is he’s fairly sophisticated and has tried every trick in the book - I’m afraid of robbers. “But our doors are locked.” Ghost robbers can come through doors! “Ghosts are pretend.” I know that but my mind just doesn’t. “Calm your mind and rest.” I can’t and if you leave I’ll DIE! You’re a mean mom! I just can’t love a mom that doesn’t protect their kid! I mean come onnnnn. </p>