Most children at one point in their childhood will experience a fear of the dark. Whether it be the odd nightmare or a full blow phobia there are plenty of things you as a parent can do to calm their anxiety.

First of all it is important to remember that a fear of the dark is a common and natural fear amongst young children. It is actually an indicator of them maturing and becoming aware of their surroundings and developing a sense of self. When they are babies a child is not aware of what is going on around them and are egocentric in assuming that if they can not see something then it doesn’t exist.

As they start to grow up children become aware that just because they can’t see something doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. When put into context of a fear of the dark a child is learning that darkness ‘covers’ things that are hidden out of their sight, meaning that things could appear out of the darkness. They are also developing in creativity. The two mixed together can encourage overactive imaginations to create big scary monsters that only arise under the cover of darkness.

Here are a few points for you to remember when dealing with what will be an unsettling time for your little one:

Listen
Allow them to explain to you what exactly it is they are scared of whether it be the bogey man or the monster under their bed. They must know that they can come and talk to you about their fear rather than staying awake all night scared leaving you with a grumpy and irritable child the next day.

Understanding
It is easy, especially as an adult, to dismiss irrational fears but it is important your child feels able to talk to you so you can reassure them and help them get over it.

Nurture their own ways of coping
As part of their development children show a capacity to face their fears. This is often displayed by asking questions and incorporating the things that scare them into their play. Projecting their fears into a ‘safe’ environment helps them cope by making them seem less frightening.

Help them develop skills
Facing fears head on are teaching them coping methods that will be used endlessly in later life. This is a crucial lesson they can not afford to miss out on.

Action
Once you have an understanding of what your child is scared of and they understand that it is something they can overcome, you can help them face it. This could be as simple as walking them round their room and explaining that the shadows they see in the dark are actually just their wardrobe, book case, cuddly toys etc which will make them feel more comfortable in their surroundings. Sitting with them if they are upset is fine at first but your presence should not become part of their sleep routine. A way to get around this is a good night light...

The first thing to remember when buying a night light is to get your child involved in choosing it by asking them what shapes or colours they like or showing them some options to chose from. You need to find a night light that will comfort them and different night lights offer different qualities that provide familiarity and reassurance.

Shape
Many night lights such as the Lumilove Night Light come in fun animal shapes like a panda or a rabbit. Buying a nightlight shaped like your child’s favourite animal is not only fun (cute animal noises) but will calm them if they wake up in the night.

Colour
Buying a coloured night light such as the award winning Candeloo is a great idea as the coloured glow will be more soothing than a harsh bright light. Choosing whether they want blue or pink also allows them to exert their identity on their room making it more familiar.

Safety
Choosing a light that has no access to electrical parts and does not get hot is essential when putting them in reach of an inquisitive set of hands. A product such as the Low Voltage Bedside Lamp is a great example of this.

Portability
It’s all very well having a glowing bedroom but what about building their confidence and encouraging them to go to the toilet on their own at night. Some night lights like the funky Candeloos are lightweight and portable and can therefore be picked up and used as a torch when they venture outside their bedroom at night.

With some time, encouragement and understanding your child should be able to work through their fear of the dark and a good well chosen nightlight could help them (and you!) relax with a peaceful night’s sleep.