She may be comforted by the sliver of light and household noises. Or consider leaving her door slightly ajar and the hall light on. Choose one no brighter than 4 and 7 watts, and look for a yellow- or amber-colored light bulb, avoiding white- or blue-colored light. Leave a little light onĪ night light can go a long way toward melting a child's fears. Offer a security objectĪs long as your child is over 1 year old (so as not to risk sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS), give her a security object like a favorite stuffed animal, for example, to help her feel more secure and relaxed throughout the night. Try relaxation trainingīefore bedtime, close your eyes in the dark together and imagine a relaxing scene, like playing at the beach. Try to make fun associations with the dark by having a treasure hunt for glow-in-the-dark objects or hunting for fireflies in the backyard. Just try to avoid sleeping in the same room too often, since that might encourage your little one to become dependent on you to sleep. If your little one just can’t fall back asleep without you, it’s better for you to sleep in her room than for her to sleep in yours. To help her learn to overcome her fears, have her stay in her own bed and comfort her in the dark. When you heed your child's calls in the middle of the night, don't reach for the light or bring her to your bed. Be reassuring ("I'll be close by if you need me") without making too much of the fear or overdoing the attention. Instead, let your child talk about her dread ("Tell me what's scaring you") without denying her feelings (don't say: "Big girls aren't afraid of the dark"). In fact, ignoring or playfully teasing a fear can magnify it. While a fear of the dark may seem irrational to you, it’s very real to your toddler - so ignoring it won’t make it go away. How Much Time Do Parents Really Spend Getting Kids to Bed? Someone Has (Finally) Found the Answer Acknowledge the fear What can you do about your toddler's fear of the dark?Ī few strategies can help keep your toddler’s imagination in check and help her to self-soothe and feel secure alone at night: A fear of the dark usually lasts for a few weeks to a few months. When does a fear of the dark typically start and end?Ĭhildren are most often afraid of the dark starting at around the age of about 2 through the preschool years, although it can appear in older children as well. Or, if a sibling is afraid of the dark, your little one might decide that’s enough reason for her to be afraid too.Ĭhanges (a move to a new home, the arrival of a new sibling) can also cause a child to feel insecure and afraid. Toddlers are also highly suggestible: Your little one might assume, for example, that the monster hiding in the girl’s bedroom in the book you read last night could show up in her room as well. They have longer memories than babies do, so a negative experience (like falling off a swing) may trigger a longer-lasting fear. In addition to a rich fantasy life, toddlers are more aware of the larger world and its dangers. Once a toddler’s thought process becomes more sophisticated, fears can appear to make kids anxious about a whole array of stuff - especially at night, when it’s easy for anyone’s imagination to run wild. Why is my toddler suddenly afraid of the dark?
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