Monters in the bed??

[Cortney]

My daughter turned two in May, and we converted her crib to a toddler bed. She did great at first with the bed, but within the last month or so she started saying there were monsters. She wants either me or my husband in bed with her, or she trys to climb into bed with us. We each put her back to bed around three times a night. I have tried the "no such thing", we started monitering what she is watching more closely, I have also taken the Sesame Street approach (since Elmo is a monster) and nothing seems to work! Any advice would be appreciated! Thank you!

[Toddler Toddler]

hmmm...I always try to think of how I might handle it.

Here are some ideas...
- try to distract her at bedtime. Maybe have a new stuffed animal that she can cuddle with and tell stories to.
- tell her stories before bed or sing to her
- maybe leave a little nightlight on
- give her a job to do before going to bed...like think of what she wanted to do the next day, or what place she wanted to go the next day. Maybe that would occupy her mind and distract her.

just some ideas...?

[Cortney]

Thanks for the reply!
She actually has a "BB" aka Brown Bear that goes everywhere with her, and at night she gets to pick one more stuffed animal to go to bed with.
We read a couple of short stories everynight, and I have a boom box in her room with a lulaby CD for bed, as well as her night light. I'll try the distraction tactic, with having her think of what is going to happen tomarrow :) -- I'm willing to try anything!!!