Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

Original poster

Could 11mo be scared of car in the dark?

7 replies

GlitteryGreen · 27/08/2023 22:37

Is it possible for a baby of this age to have this fear? I've read that it's very rare for children of under 2 to be afraid of the dark, but she absolutely howled on the way home from PIL's tonight.

It's an hour on the motorway and we (just me & baby) do the journey every week. I stopped after 20 mins at the first services to feed her as I thought maybe that's why she hadn't fallen asleep as she usually would. However even after this she stayed awake and when we got home she was upset to the point of shaking and being sick.

She has never been this way before and had been up for round 3 hours which is usually long enough for her to sleep in the car but it was lile she was just too distressed.

Due to the light evenings it's been a few months since she's been in the car in the dark so that's all I can think. Could it be because she can't see me in the mirror? Or the car lights moving across her face scare her?

She's not usually a fan of the car even in daylight but it's normally a bit of a moan which can be diffused by handing her a toy, not hysterical sobbing and throwing up.

Has anyone else experienced this?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

GlitteryGreen · 27/08/2023 22:38

Apologies for typos, am on my phone.

OP posts:

FunkyMonks · 27/08/2023 22:42

Hi Op not sure to be honest I do know though that my DD hated long car journeys she would always fuss unlike my DS who would sleep easily and is always happy to be out in the car.
I just think some little ones find being in the car soothing whilst others don't.

HappyAsASandboy · 27/08/2023 22:47

My baby was afraid of the car in the dark from before 2 years old. He travelled in the car on school pick ups daily after 5pm in the winter and was able to say no no no no, which he never did in the car during the day.

I bought him one of these lamps to have on his lap in the car, and talked him through turning it on and off. He understood and used it when he wanted to. No more fear.

They understand a lot at a very young age. Talk to him and explain that you think he doesn't like the dark and that this lamp might help. Turn it on for him and let him hold it in the car,

Nursery Night Light, 3 Light... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09727GD3H?ref=ppx poppmob appshare

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

9-12 months old Babies & sleep Children's sleep Families

Original poster

GlitteryGreen · 27/08/2023 22:54

Thanks both, have just ordered a little night light for her to see if it helps :) Although it didn't even help when I turned the overhead light on so 🤷‍♀️ who knows.

She honestly sleeps through this drive every time normally so it's really surprised me and the only thing I can put it down to is the dark because everything else has been the same for months. But the last time she travelled in the car in the dark probably was March/April time.

OP posts:

rocksstones2023 · 27/08/2023 23:07

Could she be travel sick?

rocksstones2023 · 27/08/2023 23:08

I know you said you do the journey often but the darkness might change her view therefore cause motion sickness

elf1985 · 27/08/2023 23:11

100% my little girl hated the car in the dark from about 4 months until about 2. Fine during the day no matter how long, as soon as it was dark she would scream.

Flip