2 year old traumatised by fireworks now in hysterics every night refusing to sleep - please help

[Stopitwiththefireworks]

2.5 year old has always been a very good sleeper. We normally just put her in cot, say good night and she settles.

Over the last week there have been lots of fireworks (not sure why people were still having them last night & early tonight, but that’s another thread).

DD has been very upset so we’ve had her out her cot for cuddles.

But tonight there haven’t been any bangs since 5pm, but she’s still screaming blue murder.

I’m not sure how to handle this I hate her being so upset but don’t want to keep bringing her downstairs as she’s asking us to, I’m worried she’s getting ideas...

Anyone had similar? It’s really getting to me, I know I’ve been lucky with her sleep in the past but I’ve never had to deal with screaming like this.
Please be kind my anxiety is really bad right now.

Oh poor thing.

I saw a video of a poor child in a war zone with bombs going off and her dad laughing loudly with every bang until she began to be less scared at the noise. Of course you can’t do this but maybe find a video of a display with some nice music and put it on low and ooooooo, ahhhhhhhh at the colours and watch the display?

White noise and take her into your bed if you like. Hopefully the fireworks should calm down/DD get more used to them soon.
I understand it’s a ball ache though.

We’ve put classical music on for her in her room.
We’ve watched some fireworks out the window and talked about them. We’ve also watched some TV programmes like the fireworks episode in Bing and talked about that

Might sound daft but could you do what is recommended with dogs when they bark at the door etc? Give her a little chocolate button each time there’s a loud bang? Sorry, I’m just rambling but I feel your pain

Is she old enough to do firework snap? Basically its a bag of haribo on the table and every time a firework goes off, everyone lunges to slap a hand on them and the quickest gets them. In this house it has evolved into a complicated game involving colour matching sweets to sparks and the rules are indecipherable but that's the bare bones of it.

I wouldn't take her downstairs but sit with her in her bedroom cuddling her. Even when you put her in the cot you may need to wait in there with her.

There’s not been a single firework tonight but she’s been screaming blue murder for 1 hour 30 now

I keep going in because she’s thrashing about so badly I’m scared she’s going to seriously injure herself
I’m at the end of my tether

Is she talking about the fireworks? It’s hard to know as they are all individual but I’d suspect that she has realised that getting brought downstairs is an option and it’s going to be a bit of hard work and consistency to get back to how she was before. Is there a seat in the room? I’d let her know that you’ll be giving her a cuddle then back to bed, then sit in the dark with her until she is sleepy and relaxed, and put her back in. Everything consistent with the routine she knows, but giving the physical reassurance given she has been frightened and doesn’t know whether more fireworks will come. I understand the thinking behind treats etc but my toddler would not let me forget it if I give her sweets at bedtime!!

Why don't you stay in there with her?

I would take her to your bed and play white noise, she’s probably terrified waiting for another loud bang. I would stay with her and offer comfort and reassurance not go in and out of the room.

We watched fireworks displays on YouTube on the iPad with our 3 year old with lots of oohs and aaahs until he stopped being frightened of them. Most of the YouTube ones are to music which helps - we pre watched it a bit first to make sure they were just small to begin with.

I'd pick a different time of day to bedtime to try and break the association?

Maybe try and make bangs yourselves with stamping your and her feet and roaring around?

Good luck

Sit with her until she settles?