Strange and random terrors in 2.9yo

[azazello]

DD has recently started getting very frightened and clingy about very odd things. In the last week she has run out of her bedroom crying because of a ladybird and a fly. She is also now terrified of ((money) spiders, bumblebees, carwashes and the story of the Gruffalo, although the Gruffalo's child is fine.

I don't know of anyone she sees regularly who is frightened of these things who she could have learned it from. It also changes fairly frequently.

I've tried sort of jollying her out of it which hasn't worked, telling her that they are either not real or not an issue which also hasn't worked and combing her bedroom meticulously for flies/spiders/gruffalos etc.

Is it just a phase which we should wait to pass or are there any other tips for managing it?

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I think its just a phase, its like they have started to develop fears whereas before they were pretty fearless. My ds (2.11) is the same - he runs out the room if a scary bit in Fireman Sam comes on (not that there are any scary bits...), hates loud noises, scared of the man in the park mowing the lawnmower etc etc.

I think the best thing is to acknowledge their fear and try to reassure them its ok without ridiculing it. I'm sure they will grow out of it eventually.

I wish they would be scared of useful things though, like crossing the road

I think it is just a phase and your dd will forget.
We have had this with crocodiles, biting rabbits and red peppers . We used a plant spray to zap the frightening things away and our ds does not seem bothered any more.

I hope it's a phase... My nearly-three year old has also become anxious lately - not so much scared of insects or people, but just more clingy generally and VERY protective of his 12 month old sisiter - if I try to get her out of the pram at the park he tries to shoo her back to the pram and instructs her to hold onto it and gets very upset if she won't. She's a total bruiser who isn't scared of anything
Anyone else had this?

Thanks all. It does seem to have got worse since DS (6.5m) started being more of a person so will wait for it to pass and be as reassuring as possible in the meantime. I like the idea of the plant spray as well.