All I want for Christmas...is sleep!

As new parents, you expect to be sleep deprived. Baby needs fed, baby needs changed...You walk around like a zombie for the first few months until a routine is established or the baby starts sleeping in 4-5 hour increments.

When babies grow into toddlers you begin to experience new sleep-related issues. Night terrors, sleep walking, separation anxiety...Monsters.

Yes, monsters. I have been dealing with the monster-situation now for over 6 months. It seems that monsters are a 3-year-old thing. According to "experts" on the web, this is the time when toddlers begin to realize that the world isn't so nice. It is a phase and if handled correctly, then your toddler's monsters are short-lived. (Apparently, when you handle these things incorrectly, the monsters stick around for-eva! Or, ehem, more than 6 months.)

Here is what they say NOT to do:
Don't brush-off the monsters or say "there are no monsters here."
Don't get angry or yell at your toddler.
Don't punish your toddler for being scared.
Don't avoid talking about monsters with your toddler.

Here is what they say to try:
Try monster spray (fill spray bottle with water and spray around the room or let your toddler spray it).
Lay down with your toddler and look at all the shadows and tell them what is making the shadows.
Get a nightlight.
Make a "No monsters Allowed" sign.
Read them a book about monsters and show them how to overcome the fear. (Where the Wild Things Are.)
Have them draw their monsters and then send them back to the "Monster Factory."
Give them a special stuffed animal to protect them.
When they get up, quietly walk them back to their room, put them in bed, pat their back for a minute and then leave quietly.
Buy them special sheets or a blanket to make their room more inviting.
Praise them when they sleep well through the night.

And if you can do this successfully, you will once again cherish that long-wished for sleep...Of course if you have done all of the above, like us, then think about bribery...'cause some are just too smart for these tricks...

Jelly bean on the phone with her Great-Grandmother..
GG "Did you sit on Santa's lap yet?"
JB "No, I stood by him. I will sit on his lap when he comes to my house. Down the chimney."
GG "Well, you better be asleep on Christmas Eve or he won't be able to leave any presents."
JB "We are working on that."

Yes, my 3-year-old said, "We are working on that."

Bribery my friends...stickers, candy, bracelet, a trip to the museum, library...whatever it takes. I think this is a sign that I am in trouble!

Don't forget to spray the monsters out!

Probably about six months ago, Bean started talking about the "M-word" you know, monsters.

She would run through the house screaming that the monsters were going to get her. She wouldn't go into another room alone (even with the lights on) because monsters were in the room. "Stay with me mommy, I can't sleep by myself, the monsters are in my room." she would plead.

Snuggled with 3 baby dolls, one kitty cat, 3 puppy dogs, 3 princess dolls, a night light turtle and a box of tissues with soft music playing in the background...I thought she might feel somewhat secure. And then it dawned on me...another blogger had tried "Monster spray." (Or a spray bottle of febreeze!)

So, that night I said, "Do you want me to go get the monster spray? It keeps the monsters away." She thought for a moment and said, "Ok."

Six months later..."Momma, I have something to tell you." "Yes." "Don't forget to spray the monsters out!"

Happy Halloween!

It's just my shadow

You know how some days you can't figure out why your child is completely terrified and won't go to sleep...sobbing so much, they clog those little already stuffy noses, and then it hits you...I probably shouldn't have been chasing them around the house earlier pretending to be a giant.

Yeah. Note to self: Don't pretend to be a Giant, Big Bad Wolf or any other type of monster.

Because those things come alive at night in your child's room in the form of shadows.

"I don't like shadows, mommy."

Have you ever laid down in your child's room and looked at the shadows? What did you tell your child?