4 year old and bed time

Anthillmob

recently our 4 year old girl has been a nightmare to get to go to bed. we have changed her bedtime to 7.30 - 8pm as opposed to 7pm.

she constantly gets out of bed to come down and say she has something to tell either me or daddy. usually its something inane. then she screams and cries and wants her juice bottle or her duvet isnt correct or wants 6 squares of toilet roll. and they have to be ripped off the roll neatly with no rips

and has now taken to screaming rages that wake and scare the living daylights out of her brother who is 2.

we give her the juice bottle [containing water] and the tissue for an easy life but some nights it is constant until she finally gives up and ive gotten angry [ive recntly been prescribed anti depressants].

for the past 2 weeks she has mentioned 'the lights that come in her room at night'. i am inclined to believe her as she always says te same thing....they are red, blue, green and gold/yellow, they float around, sometimes sit on the wall by her bed, she is scared of them.

she has not once changed her desciprtion no matter wether you ask her at night or during the day. she remembers them.

ive told her as a last resort after other theories hve failed on what they could be [she wont have it it might be a planes lights or hellicopter or car outside etc] that they are probably fairies and we had a good chat last night about fairies and how the gold one is probably the tooth fairy just checking for wobbly teeth.

ive even told her i have a fairy at night who's called dave.

but she is still scared. not of fairies but the lights. ive not seen them. obviously.

however, i believe this house is haunted by a 'playful' spirit. there is a thread on the arms somewhere about this.

do i sound like a loon? what can i9 do?

paddy's_mum

As someone who can divine water but has no idea whatever of how or why it works - no, I don't think you're a loon.

Have you tried spending an evening in her bedroom and check if you see the lights?

Bunnie1982

Is it just that room? Have you tried to put her to bed in a different room (like your bedroom) to see if she reacts in the same way?

snapping_crocodile

Does she only see them in the dark, if so you could try leaving a night light on and seeing if that helps

fly_dragon_fly

god no you dont sound like a loon at all.

it could be something that someone at school has seen or maybe she has seen a advert on tv or went to nannies house and seen a program and its stuck in her memory

or

maybe it is spirits and she just doesn't understand them (what four year old does)

sorry i cant help just reassure her that they cant hurt her and maybe sleep in her room one night to see if you can see what she see x

chocdonuty

If there is a light in her room, is she looking at the bulb? That would be sure way to get lights floating round the room, or maybe even a toy thats left on?

Anthillmob

Bunnie1982 wrote: »

Is it just that room? Have you tried to put her to bed in a different room (like your bedroom) to see if she reacts in the same way?

im one of these children must not get in my bed whatsoever parents because i know if i allow it once taht'll be it they will never leave. and unfortunately we have a 2 bed house.

Anthillmob

snapping_crocodile wrote: »

Does she only see them in the dark, if so you could try leaving a night light on and seeing if that helps

ive said i would get a night light but she doesnt want one and i said open the curtains for soe light again she isnt interested.

i dont let them watch anything i would deem scary.

they both go to nursery and i wonder if she has picked something up from a child there?

i think spending a night in there might be an answer. i dont see things as such, i sense them around the house. the oh thinks im nuts ;lol.

paddy's_mum

They don't believe in women's intuition either until they're caught dead to rights by it!

fly_dragon_fly

men never do :P x

claireac

I'm a spiritualist and a mum, so I don't think your a loon lol. Although lots of people think I am!!

It could be spirits, and children are very "open" to these things. We all have the ability to be in contact with spirit, but as we grow older we shut ourselves off to it. If you believe in these things, then I'd recommend getting in touch with your local spiritualist church for some advice. They'll be able to help.

Altenatively, it could be 4 year old fun and games!! Is she genuinely scared?? Only you can answer that. Maybe try the withdrawal method with her and see if that helps. Do the normal bedtime routine, but after you've said goodnight stay in the room. No contact, just be there. Then gradually move further away each night. To me it's kinder than leaving her crying and upset, and will help to defuse the situation.

Incidentally I believe my house has a spirit too, in my dd's (she's 3.5 now) old room. She sleeps better now she's moved rooms.......