Fear of the dark is very common among toddlers. It's also a sign of a child's developmental progress, says Maureen Girvan, an instructor of early learning and child care and teacher education at Red Deer College in Red Deer, Alta. “To younger babies, when they can't see something, it no longer exists.
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.
MYTH: Babies are scared of the dark.
FACT: Babies are not scared of the dark. They have nothing to base that fear on, since their imagination doesn't develop until around 2 years of age. In the womb it is dark (and noisy) and so, like other mammals, babies actually find the dark comforting, safe and calming.
If your child is under 2 years old, any upset overnight is not due to the darkness in their room. Developmentally, they are not yet capable of being afraid of the dark. Consider this, your child spent almost 10 months in the (dark) womb. Babies are quite used to the dark!
Babies are not scared of the dark. A child's fears of darkness are most likely to start between the ages of two and six years. Although, it can also appear in older children.
But some possible signs that your child is anxious or afraid about going to bed include being fussy, have trouble going to sleep, calling out for mom or dad during the night, frequently asking to use the potty or get a drink of water, and complaining about not feeling good. Be a detective.
Your newborn needs to eat every few hours because her stomach is so tiny. Most babies cry at night because they are hungry.
Teething. Between the ages of 4 and 6 months, says Ahmed, the start of teething is a common reason for nighttime wakings. Though teething pain can last for months, eventually your baby will learn how to cope.
To answer our question - NO. Babies don't have a fear of the dark. Sometimes when we are sleep training, once we walk into the child's room they actually start to cry. This is short-term and actually a good indicator to you that they are beginning to learn the cues for sleep.
Babies are just starting to understand the meaning associated with a fearful face between 5–7 months of age. Generally, 7-month-old babies pay more attention to faces with fearful expressions (compared to happy or neutral expressions).
“Night one is a euphoric night,” said Jennifer Howting, a registered nurse in paediatrics based in Kingston, Ont. “But babies on night two wake up a lot more—they're more alert and are ready to feed. The second night is when the exhaustion really hits [for parents].” Night two can bring a lot of crying.
Night lights in the nursery aren't necessary for baby sleep. However, there are times when a night light in the nursery or the room that you share with your baby can be helpful. Night lights can be a great tool for night feedings, diaper changes, or other nighttime activities.
It's never too soon to start introducing your baby to dim lights, but it is probably a good idea not to have them sleep with the lights off until they are at least several weeks old. Their eyesight isn't developed well enough before this age so being in complete darkness can be slightly frightening for them.
All babies are born with a number of normal newborn reflexes. Moro reflex, also known as startle reflex, is one of these primitive reflex responses intended to keep baby safe. You may have noticed that your baby startles suddenly while sleeping before; this is the Moro reflex at work.
Pitch black will help the brain trigger the production of melatonin. Around 3 months old, your baby's body will begin producing melatonin. Melatonin is the sleepy hormone that helps induce sleep and helps your baby fall into more of a regular sleep cycle.
The dark leaves us feeling vulnerable and exposed to whatever is around us that we can't see. When kids go to bed, they have fewer distractions to preoccupy their minds, so instead their imagination runs wild. As a result, a shadow in a dark corner can quickly turn into a 5-headed monster coming to get them.
Most common baby fears
In newborn babies, common baby fears include loud noises, falling, separation from parents, and strangers. At this stage, babies can't distinguish between objects accurately enough to be scared by looking at them. However, loud noises trigger the startle reflex.
Babies: First frights
It's at 6 or 7 months that many babies actually feel afraid. As they begin to develop a memory of familiar faces, anyone they see who isn't Mom or Dad is potentially a stranger to be feared.
By about 6 months
They need 2 to 3 naps during the day. They should sleep for between 1.5 to 2 hours for each of the first two naps. The third nap will be shorter. At this age, babies are less likely to sleep after a feed.
What time should a 6 month old go to bed? Many 6 months olds are ready for bed between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM. However, the best bedtime for your baby will be determined by their own circadian rhythm, or internal clock, and how well they've napped that day.
Teething. Most infants start to cut teeth around 6 months (though it can happen earlier or later), and teething pain can cause a baby to wail and fight sleep. Hitting a milestone.
It triggers an emotional response to rush in and provide comfort, but letting your child cry it out teaches them to self-soothe. If a parent is constantly picking up their child when they awaken at night, the child is less likely to learn how to fall asleep on their own.
At bedtime, your sick child's anxiety may grow simply because of the dark or imagined monsters under the bed. Isolation and silence at nighttime may also contribute to how they perceive their discomfort. During sleep, a child's symptoms may grow more severe.
Of the three groups, the extinction group babies were less likely to wake up again during the night. And when it came to emotional or behavioral problems, or attachment, all three groups were the same. This means that it's okay to let your baby cry a little. It's not only okay, it may lead to more sleep all around.
What are night terrors in infants? Babies with night terrors may seem to be in a state of panic or fear. They may not respond to the adults around them and may also seem very confused. During a night terror, a baby may scream, cry, or have a rapid heart rate.