My daughter is 5 years old, and she's always afraid to go to bed when her room is dark. This has affected her sleep routine.
2006-10-09 13:46:59 · 25 answers · asked by - surabaya - 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I'm not sure that you can get rid of this fear...I think it just takes time. Make sure there is some light in her room...being in the dark will just make her more afraid. Remember it's totally normal and be patient.
2006-10-09 13:50:54 · answer #1 · answered by qamberq 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get the book "The Monster at the End of This Book" with Grover. It is the best book and it teaches kids not to be afraid of "monsters". My daughter goes to bed with the light on. Try this for a few nights and see what happens. I read somewhere to not go looking for the monsters, just simply tell them there is no such things as monsters. It has worked out pretty well with my 5 year old. Good luck
2006-10-09 16:55:11 · answer #2 · answered by Lissa 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get her involved in picking out a night light, stores have hundreds of shapes, sizes and characters. She'll have to shut the light off to see it light up and it will be exciting for her. Another option are the lamps that put images on the ceiling like stars and animals and there are also little fish tank nightlights that move and make it look like the fishes are swimming. They can all be shut off when she falls asleep, there is nothing wrong with a 5 year old with a night light. My grandma slept with them till she passed away at the age of 88.
2006-10-09 14:32:24 · answer #3 · answered by just another girl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get her a night light or leave a hall light on. Her fear is normal. Even I as a full grown adult sometimes get afraid in the dark. Be emotionally supportive of her. Let her know she still needs to go to bed.
2006-10-09 14:07:28 · answer #4 · answered by erinjl123456 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fear of darkness is something that affects many children as well as adults. It is not really something that you need to get her to overcome. She may outgrow it or she may not. Don't make a big deal over it or ridicule her in anyway, it is not something she can control. Simply find a night light that she is comfortable with. Sometimes just a dim night light is OK, but some kids need a bedside lamp on until they fall asleep. Bathroom light or hallway light also works for some kids.
2006-10-09 14:04:30 · answer #5 · answered by sevenofus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter has a few things that help her deal with her fear of the dark.
She has a lamp on a shelf by her bed that she can turn on without getting up. That helps. But she also has a tiny flashlight that you squeeze to turn on. She takes it to bed with her. She says she uses it to "shine the monsters."
She also has an empty spray bottle. Well, it's empty to ME. To her, it's full of magic spray, which never runs out, and can be used to repel bad guys, monsters, bugs...whatever's giving her the creeps.
She also sleeps with a dog stuffed animal, because dogs are good protectors and will let her know if anything is wrong.
2006-10-09 14:28:37 · answer #6 · answered by Yarro Pilz 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have the same problem with mu little girl so what i have done is i took her on a girls day out for her room i let her choose new covers and also a barbir disco globe that i sit on the end of the bed i also tell her for every night she stays in her room adds up to another girls night out at the end of the month it is great i am sleeping at last and i get a whole day with just the too of us having fun and she gets a good nights sleep
2006-10-10 02:50:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best thing to do is first start out with a nightlight. Assure her that there is light in the room. Slowly, persude her that "big girls are not afraid of the dark". Right before she goes to bed, give her a teddy bear or a loved stuffed animal, and a wam glass of milk.
Slowly, these techniques will work. Trust me, my daughter was the same way too!
2006-10-09 13:51:07 · answer #8 · answered by Another Weirdo 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I think it's just something she will have to grow out of.
I had a horrible time with the dark, I had to sleep with my light on, but I survived and so will she. Do what she needs to be comfortable, even if that means leaving the light on all night, she will get over it, it will just take awhile.
2006-10-09 13:55:32 · answer #9 · answered by someoneoutthere 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when did this start, if recently you should really ind out what triggered the fear of being alone in the dark, if it stem from movies she has watched, sheild her from it, if from music/books read to her or stories told sheild her from it and assure her if this is the case it is fictional, offer to be with her until she falls asleep, if she feels secure, she will get back into her regukar routine in no time. best of luck.
I believe it is also reassuring to know that regardless what danfers exist, there is always a greater power to protect me, nothing can harm me and whatever challenges I face I will suceed.
2006-10-09 14:01:01 · answer #10 · answered by joi 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋