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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

DD age 2, afraid of the dark, i think!!!

13 replies

Tuesday5 · 21/08/2007 22:03

My dd has recently been asking me to leave the door open when i put her to bed at night, didnt think much of it, just thought it might comfort her to hear me pottering around downstairs. But tonight she asked me to leave the landing light on and im worried its just going to get worse! Anyone else going through the same? Do i leave the light on or try and get her to sleep without?

OP posts:

seeker · 21/08/2007 22:09

Give her a night light. I was terrified of the dark as a child and I had a nightlight until I was 11. I leave the landing light on for mine so that thye can see to go to the loo.

Wheelybug · 21/08/2007 22:11

dd went through this at a bit at similar age, she would get hysterical if we didn't leave lights on. She still likes the door open and i have given her a night light but is generally much better.

My parents had to leave the bathroom light on till I was in my teens as I was too scared

Fangzooki · 21/08/2007 22:15

Does she want the light on all night?
My ds likes his door open and some light on (generally the bathroom) while he goes to sleep, but accepts that it will be switched off when we go to bed and I also pull his door to then so i can sleep through his snoring!
That said he is now 4, and when he was younger we did have a plug in nightlight in his room. Perhaps that might help your dd? They also mean that if you need to go in to her at night you don't get blinded on those occasions when you do need to be able to see something!
Don't forget that her imagination is rampant at this age and she may need some extra reassurance.

MerlinsBeard · 21/08/2007 22:22

definatly get anight light. we have the toilet light on and their door pulled almost shut. it has a frosted window in though so the light shines thru anyway.

night lights make it easier if you find it tricky to sleep with alight on

Original poster

Tuesday5 · 21/08/2007 22:28

Fangzooki - she had been in bed for 10mins when i turned the light off and no reaction but i dont want her to be histerical when she wakes up in the dark. I hadnt thought about her imagining things, stupidly i thought she was too young to be aware of stuff that might scare her, she is my first - can you tell

A night light is a good idea - any suggestions?

I force myself to go sleep without the light but god does it scare me, every little sound and my heart is racing, esp after i watched crimewatch last night - silly me. i dont talk at all about being afraid cos i dont want her to worry about it, maybe she has picked up on things tho

OP posts:

Fangzooki · 21/08/2007 22:47

Night-light sounds like the way to go - (possibly for you too? joke....). Ours was like a normal plug but the back lit up when switched on. But there are many different types - depends whether you have a safe surface to put more of a desk-lamp sort of thing on. Plug in types are easy to take away in the daytime, but rely on a socket being in the right location in the room in relation to the bed. This sort of thing
But there are many different types.

seeker · 21/08/2007 22:50

Oh, and why force yourself to sleep with the light off if you're scared? You get yourself a nightlight too! I Really believe in doing anything to make life easier for both children and parents. Especially parents!

Original poster

Tuesday5 · 21/08/2007 23:10

Fangzooki - do they really work, i remember having one as a child, but still had the landing light on, suppose they dont cost much so could just give it a try.

Seeker - I feel stupid having a light on, im 25 for gods sake should be setting an example lol!!

Anyway she is still asleep, for now, so i will see how she goes for the next few nights and then if she still wants the light on sod it, at least we will both be getting some sleep. If DH has any funny comments to make i can just blame it on DD

OP posts:

seeker · 21/08/2007 23:15

Ok, Tuesday - then leave the landing light on for yourself and say its for dd. Anyway, I'm old enough to be your mother and I give you permission to sleep with the light on!

Fangzooki · 21/08/2007 23:18

Absolutely agree with seeker. Who decreed that it was law to have total darkness for sleeping anyway?

elastamum · 21/08/2007 23:34

Just leave the light on and dont worry about it. My youngest (6)sleeps with a night light, my oldest doesnt mind the dark and I always leave the landing light on so if they get up its not dark. They are happy and feel secure.

Easywriter · 21/08/2007 23:38

Beware though! At 2 my DD's got scared of the dark and whilst I was willing to get nightlights, leave the door open and the landing light on (whilst we were still awake), there came a point where I thought that it wasn't helping them to pander to their fear.

It's a tricky call but they'll come out with all sorts of stuff (my favourite was -but my bed's too fluffy!). I think it's something to do with being two. Firm but fair i.e. help them but beware of 'I just want ot stall the going to bed part of the day' or' I 've figured that I prefer sleeping in mummy and daddy's bed'.

Original poster

Tuesday5 · 22/08/2007 10:07

Just an update incase you were interested. When i went to bed last night dd woke up and asked for the light to be left on so i thought id give it a try. I slept better but dd woke up at 2 ish shouting for me, wanted to get in mummy's bed!! So the light helped her to get sleep but when she wakes up she wants mummy anyway. I'll see how it goes tonight.

Ps Seeker - thanks for your permission and Easywriter i will keep all that in mind.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions x

OP posts:

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