For many kids, bedtime can be a very scary part of the day. Whether your child is scared of the dark, not wanting to separate from you or other caregivers, or has different fears, knowing how to get your child through these times and into the sleep that they so desperately need can be a real challenge for many parents. Luckily, there are things you can do to help get through this phase faster.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three tips for helping a child who gets scared at night.
Make Their Room As Calming As Possible
One of the first things that you should try if your child tends to get scared when in their room is to adjust their room so that it’s as calming as possible. This might mean changing up some of their bedroom decor or taking furniture or other items out if they tend to cause them issues as they’re trying to sleep.
If there is an area of your child’s room where they tend to always be nervous about at night, like a particular corner or the closet, you may want to add a light there or move furniture away from that space so that your child can easily see that this space is empty and their room is safe for them.
Try “Camping Out” With Them
If your child’s fears make it so they are wanting to continually come out of their room or are begging for you to stay with them, something you can try is the camping method.
With camping in your child’s room, you may start with sitting on the end of their bed until they’re tired enough to fall asleep. The next night, you could sit in a chair or on the floor of their bedroom, a little further away than you were last night. The following night, you move just outside their bedroom door. This way, they can feel your calming presence there and get used to falling asleep in their own room so that it will be easier for them to do on their own soon.
Do Your Best To Remain Patient
Although dealing with a distraught, tired child at the end of a long and stressful day is never ideal for any parent, when you’re trying to help calm your child and ease their fears, the worst thing you can do is lose your patience, give into your temper, and raise your voice. So while it will be an exercise in restraint for you, try your best to be as patient as you can be, or you may just make the situation worse than it already is.
If you’re trying to help your child feel less scared about going to bed at night, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in doing this.
