Scared of the Dark

Keeping the Fun in Fright: Calming Kids’ Nighttime Fears This Halloween

One of the best things about children is their imagination. They see magic and mystery where we only see reality. They believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, unicorns, fairies, and mermaids. But just like in real life, there are two sides to every coin. Along with the light comes the dark.

Many children, at a certain age, start to believe in monsters, ghosts, and witches —creatures that come in the night to haunt their dreams, hiding in closets and under beds. As our kiddos become more aware of the world around them, they may begin to develop fears: fear of the dark and of unknown things that only appear after the lights go off.

Anyone who’s spent significant time with a child knows that once an idea is in their head, it’s almost impossible to reason with them. It becomes their reality, whether we believe in it or not.

So, what do you do when your child starts becoming scared of the dark or their room at night — keeping them (and you) awake at all hours? Here’s a short list of helpful tips and tricks to treat our kids’ nighttime fears:

Nightlights

Nightlights, when used correctly, can be very effective for children who have developed a fear of the dark. However, when used inappropriately, they can do more harm than good.

A dim light in warm colors — such as orange, auburn, or red — works best, as it doesn’t disrupt a child’s melatonin production the way brighter lights in hues of blue, green, or white can. A softer light also casts fewer shadows, whereas a bright nightlight can actually add to a child’s fears by creating scary shapes across the room.

It’s also worth noting that nightlights should be avoided until your little one actually develops a fear of the dark. In general, these fears don’t appear until around age two or older. A nightlight that shuts off automatically (or manually) after your child falls asleep is ideal, as it causes less disruption to their sleep cycle.

Monster Repellent Spray

When it comes to the boogeyman hiding under the bed, sometimes it’s best to fight fire with fire — or rather, imagination with imagination. That’s where “monster repellent spray” can come in handy.

Spraying a little “repellent” in your child’s closet or under their bed can help ease fears of things that go bump in the night. Some sprays can be odorless, while others might include soothing scents like lavender, chamomile, vanilla, or light citrus.

Of course, any product used around infants and young children should be handled with care. If you notice any signs of an allergic reaction, stop use immediately and contact your pediatrician or Poison Control.

Stuffy to the Rescue!

For many children, a comforting object like a stuffed animal or blanket can be incredibly helpful when they’re feeling fearful, nervous, or stressed. When your little one starts to worry about the dark and what might be lurking in it, choosing a special “monster-fighting” stuffed animal can make bedtime a lot less scary.

Personal Recommendations

One product that’s been especially helpful with my own children is a light-up stuffed animal. It serves two purposes in one — acting as both a comfort item and a gentle nightlight. With a single push of a button, the stuffy lights up for 15 minutes and then automatically turns off unless it’s pressed again.

Your child can easily turn it back on themselves until they fall asleep, at which point the light will fade. Some versions also play music, but I don’t recommend those, as the sound can be overstimulating and actually keep your child awake. The light-up stuffed animal has been a great tool for fighting nighttime fears in our household. You can find a variety of them on Amazon.

Another trick in my sleep toolbox is using the speaker function on a baby monitor. If your child is still awake after bedtime or wakes up fearful during the night, try speaking softly to them through the monitor. This may help calm them without needing to enter their room, which can sometimes be overstimulating.

Keep these interactions short and soothing — if your child starts using it as a way to delay bedtime or chat, it’s best to pause this technique. Used sparingly, though, it can be quite effective.

As our little ones grow and face the usual childhood fears, we as parents have nothing to be afraid of — especially with these helpful tricks in our treat bag.