My 4 year old was scared by a spider in her room and will not go to sleep or sleep through the night by herself

Angie - posted on 04/04/2012 ( 3 moms have responded )




Since being scared by a spider in her room at bed time last week, my 4 year old will not go to sleep by herself or stay asleep during the night. I try over and over to put her to bed alone, she chases me out of her room screaming and gets so upset, she hyperventilates and almost throws up. Once I get her to sleep, by sitting on her bed or standing in her bedroom, she wakes up 4-6 times a night screaming "mommy!". She won't get out of her bed, she just lays there and screams for me. So I go in her room and stand there until she falls asleep again. If I sneak out too soon, she starts screaming and crying, then it's harder to get her back to sleep. I've tried "positive reinforcements" such as if you go to sleep alone and don't have mommy stay in your room, I'll pick you up from daycare early and we'll go get ice cream and go to the park....didn't work. She was sleeping through the night, and going to sleep herself prior to the spider incident. We've cleaned her room out and "sprayed" (water) for spider spray. She says she isn't scared of the spider now, she is just scared period. I am exhausted from only getting 3-4 hours of sleep a night as I am sure she has to be and she doesn't nap anymore at daycare. I've even used "Mars Needs Moms" to try to over come this, but nothing seems to be working......HELP!!!


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Angie - posted on 04/04/2012




Jodi, the spider was captured, squished and flushed in front of her. As far as the movie, it is one of her favorite movies, not a scare tactic. Brittney, I have moved her room around.I feel aweful cause nothing I do seems to be working :(

Brittney - posted on 04/04/2012




I was once scared to sleep in my room because a cricket fell on my face. My parents moved my bedroom around and after a few nights I was fine. You could also check everywhere in her room for spiders before turning off the light, using a night light may help too.

Jodi - posted on 04/04/2012




You don't think "Mars Needs Moms" catered to her fears? To be honest, when I watched the movie, I saw it as a young child's worst fear. Despite the fact it ended well, it's probably NOT the best movie to show a child currently having some anxiety issues.

With respect to the spider, just a question.....what happened to THAT particular spider? And if it was destroyed, did she see that happen?

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