Scared of the dark

[*Liz*]

DS is - he wants a big bright nightlight - and that was fine until I realised that was contributing to NWings. And with his bright light on there are many  . So I gave him a dim nightlight and he hates it - but does seem to sleep better once he is asleep.

But it is hard work getting him to bed like that as he is really unhappy about it  .

And suggestions?? What did you do for fear of the dark that keeps sleep intact?

[Roseii]

Liz can he have one that he can turn on and off? Dd1 has one, she gives it a whack and it comes on and plays music for a short time then goes off. Or how about a glo worm? Xx

[Truly Blessed]

Hi Liz,

Could you leave his door ajar a little so he can see the landing light. I'm just thinking that when he is asleep you can easily turn it off. A friend of mine did this and it worked better for her LO than a night light. Also as it happens I remember my mam doing it for me (like it was yesterday, and it definetely wasn't  ) I remember it made me feel secure and less alone. Amazing I can remember that far back  .

(X)

[~inbalance~]

T has ones that turn off after 20mins, so they can be on while he falls asleep but then turn off (he also has a dim one that is always on).  If he wakes they are within reach so he can turn them back on easily.

[~Karen~]

We started going through this with Ethan a couple of months ago.  He has a toy car on charge in his room which lets off a dim light and I also leave his door wide open when he goes to bed but don't leave the hall light on.  When I go to bed I shut his bedroom door as if Lewis wakes up shouting in the morning he's in the room next door and disturbs Ethan.  I think I told him originally that I'd leave the door open but if he was going to play up then we'd have to close it and that seemed to do the trick.

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Ds and now dd have a tiny little torch they put under their pillows,new thing for them as its a toy from Mc D but I thnk when the battery runs out I will be looking for something similar.
DD only gave up her night light last July when we moved house and I purposely couldnt find it, it was dim but I thought at almost 7 she shouldnt need it any more. Ds never had any  kind of light in his room but recently as in last 2 weeks has started complaining about scared of dark and has come in to me at 5 ish ( v bad time) to go to loo. Since he has little torch he hasnt, if he goes to the loo which I dont think he has I have a light over the handbasin on, told him he can leave his door open a bit. He told me yesterday he was up during the night walking round his room !!!  with his torch then went back to sleep. I dont actually believe him but.... he didnt wake me.
Long story short try a torch under the pillow

[~inbalance~]

I saw this really cool nightlight on tv not long ago that I thought was a neat idea.  I think this is it:  http://www.kidsbabydesign.com/lighting/tyke-light-portable-night-light/
Kind of like the torch idea.  It sits stationary on it's base and LOs can  pick it up and take it with them to the bathroom, etc.

[*jazzberry*]

Ds2 just started being scared of the dark too (monsters specifically ) and we started leaving his door open and the landing light on. It's worked a treat so far 

[Tweakster]

My cousin is 23 and still sleeps with her light on.  Some kids do tend to sleep with light.  I remember doing it too when I was a kid.  I went through phases.  I used to insist the hall light was on and my door left OPEN. 

[*Becky*]

Some kids do tend to sleep with light.  I remember doing it too when I was a kid.  I went through phases.  I used to insist the hall light was on and my door left OPEN.

me too.

Interestingly we went to stay with friends at the weekend and Henry slept in with their boys who are 4 and 6 (I know - what was I thinking!) Anyway, they sleep with the light on in the hall and the door open. Twice Henry got up in the night because he thought his sunshine had come up (he was really disorientated) So it is not going to be happening here!!!

[Tweakster]

So it is not going to be happening here!!!

Yeah we're going to avoid it unless he pushes for it lol  Then the agreement will be that he had better sleep because if he comes out we have to turn the light off lol

I think it's hard at times to sort out what is a legitimate fear and what is stalling and trying things on.  It sounds like J has a legitimate fear right now and it will probably resolve itself after while.  Just a phase...a not so fun phase when sleep is disrupted

[clazzat]

We have been through both of them telling me that they are afraid of the dark, and I'm afraid I don't believe them! In my defence, there is no evidence of it beyond calling me back at bedtime to tell me that they are afraid - I actually think that it is just something that they have picked up as an idea. So are you really sure that he is afraid of the dark rather than just thinking that he should be? I am determined not to go down the night light route if it is at all avoidable. Currently my standard phrase is that if they close their eyes and go to sleep then they won't notice that it is dark!

[*Liz*]

LOL Clare - I tend to think rather similar to be honest!! It does tend to be an evening thing, although he has done it at the odd NWing as well (although the have been MANY NWings, so in total not that often yk?).

I think I will go with something to appease him at bedtime and then keep turning it off for now.

I don't mind the little dim nightlight as he will sometimes get a drink or go to his potty alone, and it doesn' interrupt sleep. But the bright blue light DOES  .

[*jazzberry*]

Red light is apparently a lot less disruptive than blue light. Haven't found a red night light yet tho...

[Shdef]

Funny how different they all are. Scotty likes his light off, doors shut completely and window has to have a cover over it, so no light comes in. I'm the same