Ghosts and scary monsters

[gingerbear]

DD (3) has been having lots of trouble with bad dreams recently. She has a settled bedtime routine - bath or wash, cup of milk, clean teeth, story, then lights out at 7.30 - 8pm. She is always asleep by 8ish. However, she has been waking up 3 or 4 hours later very upset and crying, telling me about horrid ghosts or monsters. I have tried to reassure her and she has gone back to sleep, but the disruption is telling - she is really tired in the mornings with bags under her eyes.
Really don't know what I can do to help her sleep better.

[mummyhill]

Dh went into DD's room and shouted that all the monsters better go home each night for a three weeks just before DD went to bed and it worked for her.

[crazydazy]

My DS is 3 and he too is very scared of ghosts!!! Every time he goes to bed he says "don't like ghosts mummy" and I just tell him that daddy has been up and killed them all, quite drastic but it works for him and so far he hasn't work up crying or anything like that!!!!

[gingerbear]

I will have to try something like that. It is odd, though, the room she now sleeps in used to be ours, and I once had a period of horrendous nightmares about ghosts whilst sleeping there. Hope it isn't haunted!

[Nightynight]

Is she old enough to offer her a hundred pounds (or other treat) for every ghost or monster that she can catch, or that you can see?

my mother did this with my little bro, it worked a treat.

[Monstersmum]

I bought DS a rainbow tent (Ikea) to put over his bed and he commented "the monsters won't be able to find me now Mummy". His idea not mine!

[Nightynight]

gingerbear, could you try moving her bed?
I remember reading something about it not being a good idea to sleep on a magnetic line.

[gingerbear]

Nightynight, not sure what you mean? It faces North East (I think), but not much room to shuffle stuff around (awkward shape/ ceiling height.

[Nightynight]

paper on effects of weak electromagnetic fields

scroll down to the bottom of the page, Smith et al.

There was some discussion around the time about the earth's magnetic field as well. you know the effect where piano wires move as they cross a line of force? well you're not supposed to sleep on a line of force. I haven't kept up with this research, so I don't know if there's anything in it. One of the doctors who wrote this paper was treating me for allergy reactions at the time, and this was one of his pet theories.

[CarofromWton]

I too have a similar problem with my older daughter (who'll be 7 tomorrow). She is v. sensitive and for the last 2 years she won't go upstairs alone day or night and either DH or I have to go to bed with her and pretend we are going to bed at the same time. Then we sneak downstairs when she's asleep! A bit dishonest but we tried all the other advice ages ago to no avail and we need some time to ourselves! She looks at us as if we're mad if we suggest chasing ghosts away or similar though I know this works for some (she's a bit old-headed to be fobbed off). She doesn't have nightmares though - once asleep she's ok. I haven't told her this but I remember being frightened of going to bed on my own at her age (imagined ghosts) so maybe it's a normal phase or we have weird genes. Sorry this isn't too helpful, but I'm desperate for a solution too. Any ideas anyone?

[expatinscotland]

One of my first cousins - I have a lot on my dad's side - was like this. Turns out the kid's a 'seer'. I thought it was all a bunch of hooey, but he's pretty genuine.

[starshaker]

we used to do a magic dance that made all the monster go away was fun and never had any monsters visit

[MrsWood]

Has she seen Monsters Inc.? She's definitelly old enough to understand it - in it the monsters are nice and actually afraid of kids. Our dd (2.2) loves it.

[sausagedog]

My 9 year old ds still has terrible dreams that wake him occasionally & he's frightened of various things in his bedroom. All started when he was 2 or 3yrs old. Ds2 (age 4) dreams of "breakfast" most nights!!

[CarofromWton]

9 years old! Is there no end to it? I can see us taking DD to bed when she's 20! DD did see Monsters Inc when it first came out (I think she was 3 at the time) and I'm afraid it didn't help. She's older now though, so maybe...

[justmummy]

Think i saw someone mention on here before about helping them make a poster for their bedroom door saying 'No monsters/ghosts (whatever they're scared of) allowed!'
Remember thinking this sounded like a good idea.

[CarofromWton]

Thanks Justmummy - I've suggested the idea to DD and she's thinking about it (anything's worth a try!) Thanks too to everyone else who made suggestions - I'll let you know if any are effective!