Is it possible for my infant to be scared of the dark?

Question

I posted this question 2 hrs ago but didn't get any responses so I am posting it again. My daughter is 5 months old and when i put her in her crib and turn off the lights and leave the room she cries and cries. I go back in turn on the little lamp on the dresser and leave the room she falls right to sleep. Everyone told me she just wanted me in the room but if I turn on the light and leave she is fine. I was just wondering if anyone else has had anything like this? Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Hmmm well that is odd because it is dark in the womb, but if she prefers a little light give her light. Sleep is good.

My son is very particular about where he wakes up, so while he can put himself back to sleep if he is asleep in our bed when he is alone (we cosleep) if he falls asleep anywhere else, playpen, couch, crib, someone elses house he SCREAMS bloody murder. So they can definitly have preferences very early and as long as it doesn't interfere with your life just go with it.

Answer 2

Perhaps your daughter has associated lights on with you in the room. It is unheard of but not entirely impossible for an infant to be afraid of the dark. Remember they were in the dark for months. Perhaps leaving on a night light (my 2 year old still has one) will help sooth and calm her. Then again if you dont want the hassle of training her to sleep without a night light, put her in her crib when she is really drowsy but not full asleep. If she cries, wait 10 mins before going in and even then dont pick her up. Lay her down, give her a kiss and a pat on the head then leave the room. Eventually she will understand that okay its time for me to be asleep now. Hopefully this helps!

Answer 3

I never thought babies that young could be afraid of the dark, however I have a six month old that might be. He hates if our bedroom is completely dark, we have to have a nightlight and I have noticed that when we drive in the car at night, he cries but during the day he's fine (also if I turn the light on in the car he'll stop crying). I don't know if it's so much that he is afraid, but I don't think he likes not being able to see if anything is going on?

Answer 4

My son is almost 2 yrs old & I don't think he's scared of the dark because we've been in the room before when the electricity went out and it was dark but as long as he could hear our voices, he was fine. He prefers to sleep in a dark room as long as he knows we're near.
About 2 weeks ago we tied to go to the store but it was dark outside and our car has no light. My son was screaming, kicking, and made it impossible to buckle him in. I brought him back in the house and gave him a flashlight, & told him to hold on to it . He did, and was quite happy to get buckled in without any more resistence. Sometimes it not being "afraid of the dark", it's more like "being afraid of the unkown" - which we all get from time-to-time. I alternate different lights for him at night: sometimes the bathroom light, sometimes the light over the sink or the oven light. Sometimes he likes a candle (kept out of his reach of course). We set in his bed and look at books. I don't try to read them in the candle light. Instead, I use that time to ask him what he see in the picture. You can tell he benefits from the time and attention. And when he's ready to fall asleep, he loves to blow out the candle. Another thing that has really helped on nights he can't seem to relax is one of those 'sound machines'. The ones that play relaxing noises or nature sounds. I only discovered this when my son turned mine on, and pushed different buttons, tilting his head to the different sounds. He found one with birds chirping and snuggled right down. Another family favorite is the one with frogs and crickets. It reminds you of the nearby childhood pond. Or even just some quiet relaxing music.

Answer 5

Honey...I am a mother of 3 children.Let me clearify this for you children are not born with any sense of fear.Fear is something that are eventually taught.At 5 months old your daughter has no fear of the dark.The fact that you turn on the light and leave the room let's your daughter know that you are still close.Feel free to e-mail or IM me I would be happy to give you any tips & advice I can help you with.You just have new mommy worries.

Answer 6

I think she is crying because she's not feeling protected anymore when you leave her on her crib. The sense of awareness is not well developed at that age so its very unlikely that any fears like being scared of the dark may appear on the infant. When we become aware, we naturlally tend to develop fears for the unknown, and being in the dark means we don't know what can be sorrounding us since we cannot see well.

Answer 7

No, yet my young babies do and that they drag each and every ingredient lower back residing homestead. One morning I even have been given up and thought I heard a television on. I stated the sound each and every of how all the way down to the lads mattress room and thought of in. watching me have been countless those eyes. They controlled to place across residing homestead...... 2 canines A Duck A Rabbit A Small Pony 2 Nuns and a Preacher The Irish Rovers An Ocelot 2 Raccoons A Turtle and the little female from around the lane to no longer factor out an previous guitar a pair of hip waders a vacuum air purifier chair and a television that easily labored To this present day I in spite of the undeniable fact that have not found out how they have been given all of it the way by using way of that little window. We had to lock them of their room at nite in any diverse case they may be up all nite raiding the refrigerator and observing television and ingesting dandelion wine. the girls...they have been the a number of...they have been continually sneaking boys in so we located bars on there residing homestead windows....appropriate that's yet yet another tale.

Answer 8

Yup, i think she is afraid of the dark.. just leave the lamp on for her when she goes to sleep. Its normal coz babies cant still see clearly at that young age and rely on light to get acclimated on their surroundings.