4 nearly 5 year old scared of the dark

[Silentwhisper93]

Hi all. I’m currently sat outside my daughters room after been woke up multiple times because she’s scared. I’m completely exhausted as this has been going on for weeks 😩 she says she’s scared which is absolutely fine and can hear noises which she’s imagining. I have night lights, the landing lights on with the doors open. When it’s bedtime she goes to sleep absolutely fine but it’s through the night and it constant waking me up. Does anyone have any tips? I’ve been sitting outside her room so she knows I’m there until she falls asleep. If I get in her bed she gets used to it and causes mayhem when I don’t sleep with her so I’m trying to avoid that at all costs. I’m just so so tired and at my wits end

Seems obvious- a night light?

She does have a night light

It's right there in the OP. Nightlights, landing light is on and the door is open.

Would she understand something like a dream catcher? Or some sort of special crystal for protection? Failing that maybe some white noise to “drown out” the noises she is hearing. Solidarity! It’s hard when they don’t sleep through.

She has white noise 😩 I try to be sympathetic as to this day I’m scared of the dark but she unaware of this! It’s just hard when you’re exhausted ☹️ I will try a crystal see if that helps x

I think Rose Quartz might signify protection. My mum got my daughter a cross in rose quartz to hang in her window.

Would it be appropriate to suggest ear defenders for her for bed? I hope you manage to sleep soon. My DS crawled into my bed at 1.30 and I’ve been awake since. I might just get up for the day 😂

What about putting a touch lamp next to her bed so she could tap it once if she's scared and the light comes on but not too bright? Poor thing it must be awful

I’m scared of the dark and need to sleep with the TV on, I was this kid. I couldn’t have patterned curtains as I’d see faces in them (my poor parents 😂) it sounds like she has a very active imagination

could she have some sort of audiobook along with her nightlight? This would hopefully give her brain something to focus on while she falls asleep rather than it wondering off into scary thoughts

you have my sympathy, I can’t imagine this is easy to deal with

When my eldest was a bit younger (4-5) I told him magic fairies looked after him at night so don't be scared. Every bedtime I sprinkled a bit of fairy dust (glitter in a special container!) on his bed while he laid in it and said a special bedtime rhyme.

Fairies fairies warm and bright
Keep my [childs name] safe tonight
Take away his bad thoughts and make them good
And make him feel as good as he should.

For the 'take away' bit I always did a big dramatic swooping thing with my arm. He loved it and it helped a lot.

He's 6 now and 'too old for it' 😭

I’ll try the touch lamp that’s a great idea! She’s also the same with curtain, I bought her ones with stars and moons and she is petrified of them!

The fairies idea could go 2 ways either work really well or she’ll be scared about the fairies being in her room 😂 I hope it’s just a phase as I’m a walking zombie 😂😂