Once it gets dark, my daughter is attached to my hip. She even follows me to the bathroom. She's afraid to be alone and I try explaining to her that she's safe and there's nothing there to hurt her,but she doesn't buy it. How do I help her to overcome her fears of night time? Would can I say to her to convince her that she's safe?
2006-10-06 16:46:45 · 20 answers · asked by Jasmine829 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
Tell her God is watching over her all the time. Trust Him.
In the Beginning God created heavens and earth.
God gives you air to breathe and sunshine to enjoy.
God gives you water to drink and food to eat.
God gives you a wonderful body and sound mind, to live.
God loves you, and you are precious to Him.
Son of God died on the Cross to save us from condemnation.
Jesus’ love is boundless and everlasting.
We have the hope of Heaven through Jesus.
Life therefore has fantastic and glorious future!
(Digestion of above can even prevent depression and suicide attempt.)
2006-10-06 16:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by tmthyh 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First you need to find out what she's afraid of in the dark...
Maybe she has had a bad experience in the dark and doesn't want it to happen again. Maybe her fears are real....
Who else lives in your home? Could one of these persons have scared her or threatened her? Maybe touched her inappropriately...
If it's just that it's dark, get a night light for her room, leave her bedroom door open and the hall light on.
Reassure her that your home is a safe place and you are near by. If that is true. Let her wait outside the door while you use the restroom. Then when you are done, she can trust that you are still there. If she becomes hysterical with fear, something is wrong.
I think these are signs of some kind of trauma. She may be frightened for you as well if someone has told her they will harm you if she tells.
I am speaking from experience. I was molested as a child so my advice may be biased.
2006-10-07 00:40:00 · answer #2 · answered by easinclair 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My nephew is going through the same thing right now. We bought him a very cute night light, so it's not tooo dark in the room; my sister tries to read him stories until he falls asleep. We also tell him that his little brother is not afraid of the dark and that he should not be scared as well. The soft Snoopy toy seems to work a bit, when he hugs it, he feels a bit safer and falls asleep with it. We also take him around his room and look under the bed and in the closet and make sure that there are no "monsters" there. It seems that comforting is the key here. Hope this helps a little bit. Good luck to you and your little girl!!!
2006-10-06 23:59:49 · answer #3 · answered by Solomia 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is something that a lot of children go thru and is completely normal. I think by allowing her to stick close to you, consoling her by saying everything is fine is great. The worse thing to do is push her into going into the dark by herself or shaming her for being afraid. You are doing the right thing by just reassuring her. You might try a special nightlight that she might want to have or 2 like my daughter has, leaving the door cracked open, having a special toy to sleep with at night to calm her fears, reading a book on night time fears, etc. Children go thru a lot of fears at this age. This seems to be the age that it starts showing up. She will get thru it and so will you Mom. Just hang in there and try to find some ways to help her cope better until she works thru it. :)
2006-10-06 23:52:02 · answer #4 · answered by hehmommy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe if you read her a bed time story-leave on a night light for her find some little prayers to say with her before she goes to sleep-Get a picture of an angle to go above her bed-or if you have to lay beside her until she falls asleep. Tell her that anytime during the night if she needs she can call out to you or come and find you and you will be there for her! I hope some of this will be a help to you so you can help her to over come her fears of the dark. Sweet dreams.
2006-10-06 23:55:44 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First try asking her why she is scared. I mean really ask her. And really let her tell you. don't laugh at her. Respect her fear. By figuring out why she is afraid that can help you assess 1) where it came from TV, friends, radio, her family etc. 2) and then you can attempt to figure out how to handle it.
The generic ways to handle it might be putting nightlights through out the house. Talk with her frequently and reassure her she is loved and the house is safe. When necessary go with her through the house, but then wing her from that. Like go only part way with her, until she can build up the ability to go by herself.
Tips for handling her being at your hip: When you are in the bathroom start with leaving the door open, but make her stay out of the bathroom itself. Then wing her slowly by closing the door but let her stay next to the door while you talk with her. If you need to go to the kitchen try putting the tv on a show she loves and talk with her frequently. Try stuff like that.
It will take time. But with understanding, love and support she will eventually grow out it.
Good luck and Blessed Be.
2006-10-07 00:05:30 · answer #6 · answered by Ofc J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem with my son when he was little.
Here's what I did (sounds a little nuts, but it worked!)
I took a clean spray bottle and mixed clean water and lavender oil ( you could use perfume, use just a little bit) in the bottle and made Scary Monster Go Away spray. You could call it what ever works for your child.
Then before it got dark we sprayed all around the house. (I showed him how to work the sprayer.) Then I let him carry the bottle around with him and spray it whenever he was afraid. After a few days he was no longer afraid to be by his self.
*Added bonus* It made my house smell nice!
I hope this helps. :-D
2006-10-07 00:10:04 · answer #7 · answered by hollyhock 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know im a kid myself, but when my lil sister got scared of high chairs,soo we lowered the chair so she can get use to the height then raise it a inch every week. You should put those little plug-in lamps in her room so she would get use to it then when she's all cool about the lamp stop using the lamp You could also use a mini torch for her so she could get off your hip and get out and about by herself when it gets dark. Sorry if that dosn't work :)
2006-10-06 23:56:40 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our three-year-old did this, too. Three things helped her:
1) we put curtains around her bed. When she goes to sleep, she pulls them closed to make sort of a little tent that makes her feel safe.
2) we got her a dog stuffed animal to sleep with. He only stays in her bed, but she knows that dogs are good protectors and they love their people, and having one of her own (even though we have a real dog--go figure) made her more comfy.
3) I got her a spray bottle. It's empty, but we told her it's full of "magic spray." Magic spray has magical powers, of course, and can banish monsters, bugs...whatever it is that's scaring her.
Of course, a nightlight is a must. And sometimes a small flashlight, the kind that you have to squeeze to keep on, can help, too.
Good luck.
2006-10-06 23:52:58 · answer #9 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You need to find out what scared her in the 1st place. Then reassure her that its not scary. Try buying her a stuffed toy of her choice and tell her its her safty doll/pet. Tell her as long as its with her nothing can hurt her. Good Luck!
2006-10-10 09:52:51 · answer #10 · answered by exotic69n 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋