We asked you to send in your best Dr. Mom advice to the following reader's query:
My seven-year-old is afraid of the dark and crawls into our bed at night. Our four-year-old now insists on sleeping with us, too. Help!
We published our favourite response in the December 2005 issue of Canadian Living but there were many more we wanted to share. Here are some of your suggested solutions:
Light up his life
Nightlights work incredibly well. We have the green luminescent ones that come in packs of two or more, use little electricity and are not terribly bright.
Our son has a Fisher Price flashlight that turns itself off after a few minutes. It's great; he turns it on when he needs it and usually falls asleep before it goes out.
As tough as it is, you'll have to persevere and bring the children back to their beds each time they come to your room. Comfort them and show them there isn't anything to be afraid of. You may want to play some relaxing music for them as they fall asleep to help soothe them. Leave on a lamp at first and work your way down to a nightlight.
Books are amazing tools, too. I find whenever there is an issue with my two children, ages six and four, a children's book relating to the issue helps them deal with it.
-Laurie Ann Wisniewski, Niagara Falls, Ont.
Savour it
I think children with real fears should be allowed to sleep with their parents while they need to. Figure out how you can maximize the sleeping space for now: place mattresses side-by-side on the floor.
Nighttime can be scary. All children eventually outgrow their need/desire to sleep with their parents. This is a passing phase in your life as a family, and one day you'll remember it fondly.
-Barbara Moore
