Is your toddler starting to experience some fears of the dark?

This may not happen to all toddlers, but it can start from approximately 2 years of age. If your toddler is suddenly getting upset when the lights go out or when it comes to the part of bedtime routine when the lights need to be switched off then they may be developing fears of the dark. Your toddler might be crying or clinging to you literally like a little koala, depending on their vocabulary they may ask you not to turn the lights off or leave the door open when you leave, becoming increasingly more upset if you don't.

This is the perfect time to consider introducing a dim night light for them. Ideally this light is a warm colour - a red light or a warm yellow and not blue or bright white as this is shown to supress melatonin. Be sure whichever light you choose doesn't light up the room too much, but provide more of a soft glow. You can start to include the night light in your wind down, switch it on before turning their lights out and show bub that they don't need to be afraid anymore, remind them they also have their lovey with them, read some stories together, talk about night time and remind them the darkness isn't scary.

Sometimes fears can stick around well into toddler hood, sometimes they disappear as quickly as they came about.