my 7 year old needs a light on at night how can i get her use to sleeping with it off?

Answer 1

Your child will get more sleep at night (and so will you) if your child feels safe in her room at night. I cannot see the harm with having a night light or a low wattage light bulb. When she feels ready you could suggest she keep a flashlight by her bed or a touch light.I never understood the urgency to make our children to grow up so fast.Talk to your daughter about her fears ( I assume you have already done so) .Her fears are very real to her so let her have her light.In time,when she is ready, she may stop wanting a light.

Answer 2

How did you adress the problem when she first was afraid of sleeping in the dark? Did she say one of the following?
1. It scares me. (Ask her why,and if she does not have an answer,there is no validation that she is really afraid of the dark.Hence, you must tell her that she is a big girl now,and big girls sleep in the dark.)
2. Monsters. (Being afraid of a monster is a phobia that is implanted by the people around her. Has she ever seen a horror/suspense movie that really shook her up? If so, explain to her what a horror movie is, and that none of the things shown in it,will ever happen to you.)
3. I can't see when I get up, I might fall. (If your child has the were-withall enough to know that she will fall in the dark you have a very smart child. With this issue, you can buy one of the smaller hall-lights that you can plug in, and only come on at night.Tell her that she can follow these to see.)
4. I like seeing you. (Come on, she obviously wants attention if she says this. Tell her that you see me all day, and the night-time goes fast if yo fall asleep.)

Here are some extra tips to keep the lights off-
*Get her a nice teddy,and tell her that he only sleeps in the dark,and it will make him very cranky if he cant get to sleep.(She's 7, she'll buy it!)
*Tell her that for every entire she goes to sleep without the lights on she will get 1.50. (I really would'nt enforce this, for the childs sake, and your thinning walet,but its worth a shot.)
* Buy her a new comforter set!(She will be dying to go to bed,but make her promise you that she will go to bed with out the lights before buying it.
*Tell her that you will be very tired if you keep this up.(I'd bet she's a bright kid, tell her that its not GOOD for your body to be put under the stress of light all day.

I wish you the best as a parent,and I hope my answer helped you.Wish sweet dreams from me to your little girl,and a lowered electricity bill for you!
Hope I helped!
~Mac

Answer 3

My almost 8 year old daughter has always slept with a night light or some low wattage lamp on in her room since she was a baby. About a year ago we installed a swing arm touch lamp on the wall above the head of her bed. It has 3 settings and she sleeps with it on the lowest one. She can also turn it up to read in bed. The thing I liked most about it is that she can turn it on and off without touching near the bulb. By simply touching any part of the swing arm part of it she can turn the lamp on and off thus saving herself from possible burns of getting her hand too close to the bulb.

Funny thing is that even when she's gone to spend the night at someone else's house we still turn it on because we're so used to that little bit of light shining into the hallway. :)

Answer 4

Is it a small nightlight or the room light? If it is the room light, then try switching to a smaller watt bulb or a nightlight.

If she is afraid of something from TV -- limit her TV watching to things that are not too agressive, especially at bedtime.

Other than that, why is it important that she have the light off? As long as she is sleeping well, just leave her alone.

Answer 5

What's the big deal? Let the light stay on until the child decides it is not needed any more. How many adults sleep with a light on or the tv on with the sound turned down....lots and they are still well rounded people. Dont sweat the small stuff....it's' not worth it.

Answer 6

There is absolutly no harm in a night light, give her a few more years & she wont want it on when friends sleep over, it shouldnt be putting even a little ding in the electric bill, so just let her sleep how she feels safe!

Answer 7

pretty much EVERY kid wants a night light, and you're right...it's not the best habit to allow them to get used to. But is it really so bad? One day, you're seven year old will grow out of night lights but for now, maybe they feel safer with it on. Try a very light one that doesn't shine very brightly. Hope that helps!!

Answer 8

You might discuss with her, asking her, why do you want the light on ? Sometimes their reasons are not what we think. I would agree, that if you can afford it and it doesn't cause other family issues, just leave it on. One thing I used, but more with my preschooler children, was I would get a spray bottle, add some color and scent, and then tell them it was "Monster Spray" and before they went to bed, we sprayed everywhere they thought the monster might be, or if it isn't a monster, than call it whatever spray you want. No it is not lying to the child, under the age of 6, their concept of reality is not totally fixed, so you may know for sure there aren't monsters, but if for some reason they think there is, for you may want them to believe in Santa ????, then use the spray. It worked great for me and was recommended by a parenting specialist.

Answer 9

Is she afraid of monsters? My daughter is 11 now and when she was younger she would have to sleep with the bedroom light on. Well we started a ritual every nite we would check the closet for monsters, check under the bed, check the hall closet (you had to pass the closet to get to the bathroom). Then she would get a drink of water go to the bathroom and get into bed. After she got into bed I put a "magic spell" over her bed that put a magic bubble around it so no monsters could get to her. But if she got out of bed it would pop the bubble. It sounds crazy but it worked. The only down fall to that is when she got up to go to the bathroom she would come wake me up to put another bubble over her bed.

Answer 10

Why??/ If she wants the night light what is the harm in this? I don't understand why you have a problem with it. Most kids get scared at night this is normal and if this helps her to be secure let her have it.