It seems that every child goes through a phase where they are afraid of the dark. Some children have only a mild fear while others progress into full blown night terrors. How you deal with your child’s fear of the dark will depend a lot on your child, your parenting style, and the type of fear you are dealing with. My youngest brother suffered from night terrors when he was little. The poor little guy would wake up terrified from nightmares. Getting him to go to sleep involved a well crafted routine that included “beating up” the monsters and staging all his stuffed animals on his bed so that they would protect him throughout the night.

Sometimes those bedtime battles are more than just a way to stay up a little later, sometimes they are the result of a fear your child has developed. If your child is suffering from a fear of the dark, or monsters under the bed, it can be a challenging coming up with the best way to help them get over their fear. Here are a few tips for helping your child battle this nighttime fear.

• Play detective to determine what exactly your child is afraid of. Some kids are embarrassed to tell you what they are afraid of, others can’t tell you because they are still too young. Look for clues of what it might be or if you child is old enough talk to them about what their fears are. You may need to share some of your fears to get them talking.

• Be creative with your solutions. In the example above about my little brother my mother figured out that setting up his stuffed animals as protectors really helped him. Find something you can do for your child that will help them feel protected even when you aren’t in the room with them.

• Talk to your child about their fears. Sometimes just talking through it can be a big help. Choose a time of day when both of you are relaxed and not thinking about bedtime. Help your child talk through why they are afraid and what they may be able to do to get over those fears.

• Don’t overreact to nightmares. Staying calm for your child, easing their fears quietly, and helping them settle back down for sleep can be very helpful. If they sense your stress it may make things worse.

• Don’t allow your other children to make fun of your child for their fears. Feeling embarrassed about their fears will cause them not to talk about it and sometimes talking about it is the best solution.

• Talk to your pediatrician if your child seems to have bad night terrors. They may be able to recommend some techniques for you or someone your child can talk to.

For most children this phase will pass eventually. Helping your child understand their fears and get over their fears may take some creative parenting. Develop an approach that keeps your child in mind. What works for one child may not work at all for another. Respecting their feelings and helping get over their fears is the ultimate goal.