Santa Fear - how did you deal with it?

[TheChristmasYouGetYouDeserve]

DD2 (27 months) is very excited about Xmas and knows that Santa will be coming down the chimney and giving her presents. She has been a bit curious about the logistics of getting down the chimney, but hasn't seemed worried about him coming in the house.

But today we went to a playgroup party and Santa appeared, she was terrified. She told me to make him go away and ran to the opposite end of the hall. We had to leave soon after as she was very unsettled.

Anyone else had this experience? Did you find a way of showing your DC that Santa is harmless and actually quite a good chap? Bit worried as I've got at least one more toddler Xmas party to go to, and Mr Claus will definitely be putting in an appearance.

I comfort them and leave it at that! Mine weren’t happy getting close up at that age and even now age 7 my dd is wary.

My DD is 8 and still won't talk to Santa but she still insists on paying to see him so she gets her bloody present

We just didn't push it. She did NOT want him in her bedroom!!!!!! So her stocking stays on the landing, which she was fine with.

Just roll with it, the more you force it the worse it gets.

DD2 was the same last year. (Similar age) TBH I think it’s a good self preservation instinct if they don’t want a strange man coming into their bedroom at night. Or even if they don’t want to speak to a strange man who is going to give them a present. We just ignored it and like MsAwesome we left stockings on the landing. This year she’s 3.5 and excited about Santa.

Do emphasise that he only comes once a year. We forgot this minor detail when ds was 3.5 years and the look of bereft disappointment after he ran to the tree on Boxing day is not something I'll forget. There were tears.

Stranger Danger I guess, plus he is the ultimate authority figure for kids.

Our toddler is terrified of Santa too, this is his 2nd Christmas. We are just reassuring him gently where need be but mainly just ignoring it. We have a massive Santa figure decoration thing which he seems to be getting more curious about now rather than fearful of.

I reckon for our DS it started because he first met Santa this year in a very dark and contained room. Tbh I felt trapped and uneasy in that room. Then there's this massive guy all hidden and trying to talk to you in a deep voice. Is kinda scary.

I think its quite a mature response!

@MsAwesomeDragon and @Gunpowder Stockings will be downstairs because that's the way it's always been at my mum's house. So hopefully she won't be scared of him coming into the bedroom, and we can tell her Santa comes down the chimney into the lounge and doesn't go exploring!

@FestiveForestieraNoel That reminds me of when my friend's son was 5 and it was his first Xmas after starting school. He was talking to his mum at bedtime sometime in December, and then worriedly asked if he'd have to go to school after opening his presents.

No one had told him about the school holidays...

DS ran away from Santa crying when he was 1.5, and was pretty wary at 2.5. This year (3.5) he's excited about seeing him and telling him what he wants for Christmas.

I don't think you need to force it - I think it's pretty normal for toddlers to be scared.

We told DD that she didn't have to speak to Santa at parties if she didn't want to, and that the reindeer could drop off her gifts (as they were OK). That worked out ok!

@TheChristmasYouGetYouDeserve poor mite!

My DS is now 10 but was scared of Father Christmas when he was a toddler and up till when he about 4. He obviously loved the thought of someone bringing him presents but was horrified that he was going to running over rooftops, squeezing down chimneys and creeping into bedrooms. I never even thought about it until I had kids!

When he was 2 or 3, he told me that he didn’t want FC coming in his room, so I suggested that we write him a note and ask him to leave the stocking by the fireplace. DS then suggested that maybe we could ask him to leave the stocking “at the end of the road”!

Even now, stockings are always left downstairs by the fireplace. I also think the image of FC is quite intimidating when you’re little...a big man, dressed weirdly with his face barely visible behind a big beard.

Your DD is 27 months old? How many days and hours is that OP?

You mean she's 2 then? FFS

Bit unnecessary, Chopsy, it’s not like her DD is 10.

Chopsy I'd say the age in months is fine in this context. Children change a lot from just turning 2 to coming up for 3, the OP is helping posters to give appropriate suggestions.

@chopsypombears who pissed on your chips?

Even with older children posters often put the school year their child is in to give a more full picture of their maturity level. Giving the age in months with the child is a toddler is fine.

There’s a big difference between 27 months and 35 months. They’re both 2yo.

My own 2yo (34 months just for clarity ) was scared of Santa at the shopping centre last weekend and screamed “GET ME OUT OF HERE” throughout the visit

4yo DS1 was absolutely starry eyed and enthralled, but it’s the first time we’ve taken him to Santa as previous years he would have been too terrified.