One of the reasons that children develop a fear of the dark is that they are often alone in it. They are on their own in bed with fewer distractions and their fears can overwhelm them. If you spend fun time in a dark room with your child, they will learn to feel secure in lower light.
Some children develop a fear of the dark without any specific reason. Others can point to a specific event, such as hearing a scary story, watching something scary on TV or living through a difficult experience, which started the problem.
There are several reasons why a child might become afraid at bedtime, including the fear of being alone, the thought of something coming through the window, a mysterious noise, or a shadow on the wall. Without giving any new ideas, try to help your child identify what exactly they are scared of.
Night terrors are most common in preschool-aged children around 3 - 4 years old. But toddlers as young as 18 months - 2 years old, and children as old as 7 or 8 years, can experience them as well.
Usually, the fear of the dark hits home for kids around the ages of 2 or 3, when they're old enough to imagine, but not wise enough to distinguish fantasy from reality, Berman says. This gives the unknown an opportunity to turn scary.
Most kids will actually outgrow fear of the dark by ages 4 to 5, helped along with some specific strategies. But about 20% of kids will have a persistent fear of the dark. “It's not always so easy to unlearn those startled, anxious, fearful responses,” said Mabe.
The Root of Toddler Fears
Fears may pop up when a child is under stress, suffers a scary experience (an injury, earthquake, car accident), sees a scary cartoon, or hears something ordinary but misinterprets it as something frightening.
A: Fear of the dark is quite common, especially at this age.
By 2 1/2, most children are very engaged in the world of pretend and imagination, and they don't fully understand the difference between fantasy and reality.
Nyctophobia is much more common in children than adults, but people of all ages can be afraid of the dark. Children and adults who had a traumatic or troubling experience in the dark are more likely to develop this type of phobia, especially if the event happened in the dark.
Babies: First frights
Infants come into the world with no real awareness of its dangers. Even so, they're hardwired to reflexively bawl at sudden loud noises and cling if they sense they're falling. It's at 6 or 7 months that many babies actually feel afraid.
Consider sources of daily stress.
Kids who suffer from daytime anxieties—about school, separation from parents, or other concerns—are more likely to fear the dark and fear sleeping alone (Gregory and Eley 2005). You may be able to reduce your child's nighttime fears by helping him cope with daytime stress.
Common fears include fear of the dark, burglary, war, death, separation or divorce of their parents, and supernatural beings (such as ghosts and monsters). Suggestions for helping your child include: Let your child know that you take their fears seriously.
Excessive fear of the dark can be caused by a variety of factors. It may come from a negative experience such as getting attacked in a dark place. Or it can be caused by something as simple as watching a horror movie, according to Antony.
Night terrors can be caused by deficiencies in certain vitamins or minerals, such as magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc and Vitamin B6. Deficiencies in these vitamins and minerals can lead to low levels of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate sleep and calming responses.
A sleep regression will typically last for a few weeks, and happens in most toddlers due to different developmental milestones. But don't worry - there are ways that you can ease them in the meantime, so that both your toddler and you can feel less sleep deprived!
Childhood Fears for AGES: 2-4 years old
Fears around the potty and potty training are common at this age. Read Why I am Afraid to Go Potty for tips on how to conquer this fear. Fear of loud noises (vacuum, garbage disposal, garbage truck, fireworks etc.)
Common childhood fears
Babies (age 0-2) typically fear strangers, unfamiliar settings and loud noises. Toddlers (age 2-4) may express fears related to the dark, thunder, shadows, being separated from parents, changes to routine, or fears related to potty training (which is more than you'd think).
It may be helpful for your child to have a security object (e.g., special blanket, toy, stuffed animal) to keep during the night to help him / her to feel more relaxed at bedtime. A night-light may be helpful for providing security at night even if your child is not afraid of the dark.
Stressful or traumatic events, genetics or children being around anxious or overprotective caregivers can increase the risk of being scared of the dark.