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4 year old scared of monsters

7 replies

Mac56 · 23/10/2025 19:34

Has anyone any strategies/book recommendations for a child who is scared to sleep at night because she's scared of monsters? She is up half the night and I really don't know the best way to approach this. Advice appreciated

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
BunnyRuddington · 24/10/2025 07:17

Is this new behaviour @Mac56? And has she recently started school?

Mac56 · 24/10/2025 09:12

She started reception in Sept. She was in school nursery before that. She was very sensitive to unexplained noises before that, but the monster fear is very recent.

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BunnyRuddington · 25/10/2025 08:00

Ok so if she was already sensitive to noise, does she have any other little quirks like being sensitive to smells?

Has the Teacher raised any concerns so far? Is she settling in well and getting on socially? How does she do on this simple progress checker?

It might be worth asking to see the Teacher and talking about the problems you’re having at home and checking everything is ok at School. There is always the School Nurse service available for advice on things like this as well Smile

On a practical level, and to help you get more sleep, could you try her with a mattress on your bedroom floor?

Often a weighted blanket can help too as the weight gives them physical reassurance.

Introducing some form of meditation might help as well. There should be guided meditations aimed at this age on YouTube.

Does she have any sleep associations like a light show, a favourite teddy or a Yoto player?

It might also be helpful to try an earlier bedtime. This may seem counterintuitive but she could be overtired, and I imagine you are at the moment too.

Getting out in nature this weekend might help her to de-stress, maybe a walk in the woods or by a lake or canal? Walking by water is proven to have a very beneficial affect on stress and anxiety, have a read up on Blue Health.

Sorry this has turned into a bit of an epic. I hope you find some of it useful and sleep returns soon for you all Flowers

Mac56 · 25/10/2025 10:42

Thank you for your advice. We are willing to try anything at this point.

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BunnyRuddington · 25/10/2025 15:38

Mac56 · 25/10/2025 10:42

Thank you for your advice. We are willing to try anything at this point.

Have you had a chance to do the progress checker yet?

And if you have a DP/DH, don’t feel guilty about having a lie in one morning over the weekend or a nap in the afternoon. You must be totally exhausted Flowers

Yol1965 · 23/03/2026 20:23

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Mac56 · 23/03/2026 23:25

Thanks I will look out for those.

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