My daughter is terrified of spiders..

My 7 year old daughter is terrified of spiders..its turning into some sort of phobia.. she thinks there's spiders everywhere.. She clings on to me all the time and won't got to toilet on her own because she thinks there's a spider there..I don't know how to help her..

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.

Add a comment

When my son turned 4 he developed a huge fear of bugs. I joked that I was starting a big immersion program for him, but I just took him to the library and we researched together. We asked the librarian for some suggestions and we left with a large pile of books. Some fun, some more factual, and we just read a few each day for a couple weeks. There was 1 that was very realistic and he wouldn't let me open it, but by the end he didn't care anymore. We also watched a couple movies like Bugs Life and I was very animated and vocalized how cool they were, etc. I'm not saying he wants to pick up bugs or anything now, but he actually enjoys seeing bugs in containment at the zoo which surprised me. If he sees one inside now he will just yell "Moooooom, bug get it!" and move away. Something like that may help or maybe not, but I thought it was simple enough to try 🙂

I don't have a huge fear, but I remember that from like 20 something to maybe mid 30s, I always lifted the toilet seat to check for spiders before sitting. I'm not sure why that eventually stopped for me but I hadn't even thought about it until I read your comment.

I have a 7 year old whose the same. Luckily it’s not spider season which helps for us. She doesn’t like my car either and we were once late for swimming as she refused to get in. The bathroom she has started to go by herself again. But she’ll see bits of fluff and think it’s a spider. I think it’s one of those things that will pass (hopefully!).

There's some evidence that aversion therapy can worsen phobias. I think id be tempted to do 's suggestion, as gaining knowledge and healthy curiosity about the natural world has always worked with my daughter. She had a major problem with wasps (mil makes a huge deal of them) and I was determined to nip it in the bud. We read about them, and sketched some, and now i make a point of admiring/commenting on something about them when we see one. Has worked quite well.

Thanks ladies.. I think it's a good idea to learn about them..I did say to her that we need to learn to live with them.She get panicky she thinks they will crawl over her even if they aren't there..

My younger sibling went through something similar at that age, but with mice.

We found out a few weeks after that it was because some girl had shown her a traumatizing video about mice at school.

We were able to find helpful and educational videos after. We even went to the pet store and were able to see some mice up close.

in our community

AITA

In the uk there is an outbreak of meningitis, in a specific area mainly. My BD has family from that area and decided to go and meet up with them, I said if he does then he cannot have contact with the kids for 7-10 days after incase he picks anything up. Am I being over dramatic? I reallyyy don’t want my young kids getting anything serious

Baby clothes

Just out of curiosity, why do parents love zipper onesies?

Don’t get me wrong, I tried zipper ones it’s easy to zip in and out when putting it on the first time and taking it out, but I find it difficult when changing diapers especially when baby is asleep.

I prefer those kimono style buttons where it’s easy to button or too down button with crotch snaps.

Is everyone thinking the same or different? Lol

This might rattle some people

Ok, this might get a bit long, and a bit bumpy, so get comfy and buckle up.

So about a week or 2 ago, there was a post on here regarding sleepovers. Not letting their child go to them as you can't trust who'll be at the house etc.

Now, given recent incidents in nurseries and schools, plus my own experience back in the 90s, I am more concerned about sending my child to nursery and later school than I am to a friend's house for a sleep over.

The other day a man was jailed for abusing children at the nursery he worked at. A woman has been arrested for sleeping with an underage boy and then getting pregnant by a different underage boy while on bail for the first offence.

Young girls and boys get sexually harassed and bullied when at school, not all of them. But more than you think. And not just by other kids, but by adults who we as parents are trusting to look after our kids.

A sleepover, is a more controlled environment, with only a handful of people coming into contact with your child. A school, a club etc there can be 100s of people coming into contact with your child.

I was targeted at 7 years old by the owner of a prominent private school. Thankfully, I wasn't SA'd. In year 5 of primary school, I started to develop early, I was harassed by the boys and teachers made remarks about how my uniform didn't fit right, always "adjusting it" around my chest and legs.

Years 7-9 of secondary school were hell. But it was all under the guise of "we're just messing around". A teacher twanging my exposed bra strap (none uniform day) is not "messing around".

Boys pinning me down trying to rip open my shirt to see my breasts.

I fear for my daughter. I hope she takes after my father's family, flat chested.

We need to educate all our children, what is acceptable behaviour. And to come to us, as their parents should ANYTHING happen.

At this point I’m not enjoying motherhood

My 22 month old is horrendous at the moment🫣 biting, hitting, pushing, pulling and shoving not only adults but children he also wants what other children have and will just snatch it away from them.

We repeat ‘nice hands’ ‘be gentle’ ‘let’s share’ etc

But how do I make him understand what he’s doing isn’t very nice? At the end of the day I feel like I’ve just been saying his name all day and nothing else.

What can I do?

Car seat

No idea which car seat to get next. Please hit me with your recommendations, 1year+ (preferably rear facing or 360). Thank you 🫶🏻

Dummy

My baby has had a dummy since about 2 weeks old (now 5 months) and over the course of the last month we weaned her off it during the day only for naps and night (which was fine) and then 5 days took it completely away during the day.

The first day no dummy was fine, the second bit rougher. But now it feels impossible she just moans and cries all the time it takes ages for her to go down to sleep (she’s always been an amazing sleeper)

I thought it was meant to get better as time went on not worse. I’m at my wits end I dunno what to do.

Currently typing this as she screams uncontrollably in the car and I cry with her cos I can’t do anything.