3 year old afraid of the dark and or sleeping.?

In my experience it will pass in time.

This might sound like a funny question but who comforted him when he had the nightmare?

If it was the parent he didn't want (we all know how demanding toddlers can be) that could be the reason.

But if things were ok for the first few weeks then I'd say it was the nightmare.

What I do with my two when they have bad dreams is remind them that they are safe and while they are in their beds and asleep I will protect them.

This is what I told my eight year old son who doesn't like to go to sleep, sleep is like a rechargeable battery and you need as much as you can get so you have enough energy to play. Since I explained to him like that I haven't really had a problem getting him to bed. I wish I had os thought of it earlier.

My two year old does the same thing. He will wake up 2, 3, 4, in the morning crying. When i go in his room he tells me that the window is going to hurt him. I ask him why he says the rain wil get him. I show him its not raining and the window is shut. Pick him up let him feel the window him self. Give him a hug and kiss, tell him everything is ok. Lay him back down with his doggy cover him up rub his back for a minute, he tells me when he feels better then i tell him i love him and goodnight. I leave the door open just a bit so a little light gets in. After hes good and deep in sleep, i shut the door the rest of the way.

All 5 of my nephews have gone through the same thing and sorry to say, but it really is just a phase and they will all go through it. Just be there and comfort them.

It will pass but you could put a dimmer switch in the room then at bedtime you leave the light on and over the course of a week or two slowly lower the setting each night until they get used to fact that there is nothing there in the dark taht is not there in the light, also giving then a flash light helps them feel like they are in control of the dark.

Try a night light or leaving a light on near the bedroom and cracking the door a little. It may be a combination. If he's afraid of the dark it should be something that passes as he grows older, considering it passes with most people. Though, you could try talking to him and telling him there's nothing to be afraid of, etc.

Sorry to say this, but its most likley that this wont pass for a longg long time. i had this problem, but on a scale much worse, as i have temperal lobe epilepsy, and one of the main symptoms is fear. i was afraid of things like, my lamp shade, teh pattern on the curtains, not being within a metre of my mum, and im still not fully over it and im 15, its just got better.

anyways, moving on, as hes only 3, i dont think it would harm him to wait with him until he drops off, and make sure he knows that your right next door and your looking after him all the time. however, makesure also, that he doesnt get too dependant on you being with him until he drops, or when he gets older, in a few years, if he still wants you there, its guna make him feel worse when you say no, your too old.

when you see the problem getting better, gradully stop being with him, like, instead of being there every night, one night a week, go downstairs and let him drop on his own. then two days, then three, etc etc

and also, make sure he knows there isnt anythign to be afriad of and it was just a dream! also try and find out where he first found out about 'scary stuff', because if he'd never head about it, he wouldnt hae dreamt about it

I'm not a mom and I know nothing much about parenting but when I was little, I was afraid of the dark too.

My dad always used to tell me to close my eyes and tell him what I saw. I always said "Nothing". He would say "That's exactly what's in the dark...nothing."

It always helped me. Does he have some kind of comfort object? Like a stuffed animal or a blanket of some kind? Let him sleep with that. Maybe start him off with a little night light when he starts going to bed and when he falls asleep turn it off.

If he wakes up in the middle of the night, I would bring him back to bed and rub his head or his back until he falls asleep. That always knocked me out. ^_^

I hope this helps.

My eldest was fine in the dark then one day out of the blue she wasnt...we leave the hall light on for her and she sleeps much better.There is nothing wrong with having some light on to sleep with and it wont interfere with the quaility of sleep.

My daughter still has the light on 5 years later and we are all used to it.It dont cost much to run and getting some sleep is sure worth it for the child and everyone else in the house.

Ask the child what they are afraid of. If they say monsters or ghosts then make up a spray u can spray in the room in front of them that will make them dissapear.

The spray is usually water in a bottle but is effective as it will put their mind at ease. They dont actually make monster spray lol

He probably needs your comfort, have you tried a night light? My two year old is sometimes scared at night too i just explain to him that nothings wrong n that im here to protect him, that always seems to work, this will pass.

Try listening to his complaints, and asking him about the nightmare. Reassure him that everything is fine, and maybe give him a small drink and a kiss. Don't ignore the issue and think it will pass without listening to him and asking questions as a mother.