My sons share a room, they are 2 and 3. My 2 year old will go to bed and is fine when we tell him to, but my 3 year old is scared to go to bed. He used to have no problems, until one night I looked out of his window and saw a huge deer. I said, "Wow look at that huge deer right beside the house!" My son flew out of his room terrified, and now will not go back to sleep in there unless his moma lays right beside him until he falls asleep. I never meant to scare him and have felt bad ever since. I wish I had an answer for you. I guess it is something that we have to hope they soon grow out of.

My 2 year old hates to go to bed also. When we tell her it is time for bed, she starts crying uncontrollably. Once in her room, she had started talking about monkeys, funny enough. When we realized that she was saying that she was afraid of the monkeys, we would either stay in there with her or let her come get in the bed with us. We found out a couple of weeks ago however... that she was playing us for fools, and we played oh so well. She knew that when she started talking about the monkeys, that she could get some company. The night we figured it out, my husband went into her room, had a "fight" with the monkey, and took "it" (a teddy bear wrapped in a blanket) outside and "buried" it in our neighbors yard. The look on her face was priceless "OH MY GOODNESS THERE REALLY WAS A MONKEY IN THERE!" But, Daddy killed the monkey and there was nothing to be afraid of anymore... real fear or the fake kind. I dont know if this would help at all with the rain... it isnt like you can go outside and have it out with the rain on your childs behalf, but maybe you can think of something similar. Maybe desensitize him to the rain by going outside and playing in it. Take some toys and an umbrella if he doesnt take to kindly to getting wet, and show him how fun the rain is. (This may require you getting wet as well unfortunatly) Good Luck and God Bless!

We're out in the rain! Wish us luck! :)

Well.... How'd it go?

I wish I could say that it worked...but it didn't. He loved playing in the rain, though he stayed under the cover of a tree most of the time. But come bedtime, it was all about the rain outside. He screamed at the top of his lungs for me. He finally stopped on his own and I ignored him while I feed his brother. However, I don't know if I can let him scream like that during naptime...since they nap at the same time during the afternoon. He can't keep his brother up all day. Should be interesting.

God, I just love my kids. :)

I'm so sorry, my advice seems to have made it worse. Have you considered that he is using the rain as a way to get attention.

I do know how difficult this is - believe me!!
Our 23 mos. old is doing the same thing. She will do whatever it takes to keep us in her room. But, ultimately, she just wants to be with us - to not miss anything. Maybe she is having bad dreams? Who knows. But, we know that if we don't nip it in the bud, she will know how to get what she wants and not get the sleep she needs.
What we do is put her down. Then, in 15 minutes we check on her (sometimes pick up the pacifier she drops on the floor but do not interract). Then we let her cry and check in 30 min....then in an hour if need be. Yes, she's screamed for hours. But, after a week, it's worked. Really. I had to tell myself that we give her so much love and attention that this would not scar her. This is just something she had to learn. It wasn't easy for any of us. I probably have an ulcer now because of it!
When they cry, it sounds like they are dying. But, they aren't. They won't pass out from crying. If they do, then there is probably a medical condition. I'd be very surprised though. We just don't want our children to hurt. It works though. Good luck!!