Thanks hun, I will try to start explaining it like that cos I think we have been dismissing the fear a bit. DH has just come out (10:45) after me putting him to bed at 8. And he knows the moon and points it out etc and knows the difference between night and morning but seems to be really irrational about it being even dim. He doesnt like me turning the light off on an overcast day.
It's not helpful that he is scared of spiders and there was one in the mozzie net the other day when we went in there to bed
My 4 year old son is scared of the dark too but talking with him about it didn't help at all. As soon as the lights went out he became terrified of spiders to the point where he was hysterical and screaming. A nightlight just wasn't enough so we got a spray bottle and filled it up with water and told him it was spider spray and told him that if he was scared he could spray it and all the spiders would vanish. Worked like a charm. He started laughing the first time he used it as all the spiders went away and let him be. He slept with it for a week but it kept leaking on his bed. So now we have his favorite stuffed bunny stay up all night keeping watch over him and who chases away the spiders for him. He is still scared of the dark but his spider spray and stuffed bunny seem to help him cope with it a little better.
Hmmm we have it here too, although a night light is enough to keep him happy
I thought it was because DH had put him in his room once and shut the door, but maybe not......
We simply kept reassuring that there was nothing to be afraid of in the dark, but put a small night light in his room, DD has to have a light on in the hallway when she goes to sleep and we turn it off once she's asleep. DS also has a Groclock that reflects some light. I never liked sleeping in the dark until I was 13 so have no problems putting a small light on that reassures them.
ETA: Maybe a Glow worm or a light that he chooses? Ikea have some cute ones and it could become a novelty factor that he has to stay in his room by himself to get the special light on??
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks