Common Toddler Anxieties, Irrational Fears, and Phobias
There are no people in the world who are completely without fear. All these fears originate in early childhood. They become imprinted in our subconscious and are often forgotten in our short-term memory, but when faced with a similar situation later, they can provoke sudden and unreasonable panic.People experience different levels and types of perception. Anxiety is the mildest form, when a baby becomes anxious in certain situations even though there is no external threat to their health. For example, bright lights or a loud television when dad is watching action films or rock concerts.
Then there are irrational fears, which are deeper emotions and are felt more intensely. Even these appear without any actual external threat. For instance, a fear of washing hair or having nails trimmed.
Phobias are already deeply rooted fears that can be triggered by real danger or life-threatening situations. For example, swimming in open water or a fear of strangers who might hurt the child.
All these fears are formed in similar ways. A situation occurs where a baby is frightened. If this is repeated several times, a single incident can grow into anxiety, an irrational fear, or a phobia. This depends on how severe the initial fright was and how often it happens again.
In general, all factors that cause these emotional reactions can be grouped into types of phenomena and objects that cause such responses.
What Are Babies Under Three Usually Afraid Of?
- Darkness. Babies may feel fear if they wake up in the dark and don’t feel their mother’s warmth nearby. If this happens repeatedly, the fear can take root and develop into a phobia. Even with the mother present but in total darkness, a child might become scared or anxious. As an irrational fear, this can show up as believing there are monsters in the dark—under the bed or in the closet. Children may also fear pantries or cellars which feel scary and lack light.
- Bright Light. Anxiety can arise if the lighting in the house is too bright. Babies up to six months old spend most time lying down, so bright light may shine directly into their eyes, causing discomfort. An irrational fear connected to bright light can also be a fear of camera flashes, as parents try to capture moments. Over time, this could result in a fear of pictures or cameras.
- Water. Water often becomes frightening if something went wrong during the first bath—if the water was too hot or too cold, or if the baby was put in the water too quickly. The child might become anxious at bath time or at the sight of a baby bath. Anxiety can also arise from hearing dripping water at night.
The fear of water may become irrational if, during a bath, the mother accidentally drops the baby and it goes underwater, swallowing water. The mother’s fear can add to this, and the child picks up on it. So, when teaching a child to dive, it's best to do so with a trainer who ensures everything is done correctly.
Aquaphobia is a fear of swimming in open water—rivers, pools or the ocean. Variations include fear of big waves or sailing. In reality, it’s often a fear of drowning, especially if the child had a scary experience near water. Over time, this can develop into a phobia. - Sounds. Fear of sounds often starts in infancy, such as when dad watches loud movies with gunshots. Sudden noises like doors slamming, alarms, or household timers can trigger it. Irrational fear may result, such as being unable to sleep in a room with a ticking clock. Otherwise harmless toys and musical books with sudden, loud sounds may also trigger phobias. For some children, a fear of balloons comes from one bursting near them. Alternatively, some children are anxious in totally quiet environments.
- Heat and Cold. All children are curious and will encounter cold winter, snow, or hot household items. Anxiety can appear as fear of touching hot objects. An irrational fear may occur if, for example, the bottle is too hot. Phobias could arise from a burn or frostbite—burns from a hot cooker or pan, or tasting hot food or drinks.
These are inanimate factors that may scare babies. To learn more about different fears and phobias, try our unique Parents Mentor Test. Here, you’ll get advice to help you identify what triggers anxiety or fear in your child. You’ll be able to find out what scares your child and why they cry. The recommendations will help you ease your baby’s fears.
Now, let’s move on to the human factors that contribute to phobias and fears in children up to three years old. - Being Left Alone. Fears and phobias can develop if a baby is left alone in their crib or room for long periods. At first, the baby cries to get attention—to receive their mother's warmth—but if no one comes, a fear of being alone develops. It can begin as anxiety, then, if the mother leaves the baby’s sight, the child becomes more fearful. Eventually, if this becomes a phobia, the child cannot entertain or develop on their own through play—they always cling to their mother. In some cases, this manifests as a fear of sleeping alone since the baby wakes up with the mother gone, as she may use nap time to do chores or have some “me” time.
- Being Without Mother. These fears develop alongside those above. The child isn’t just afraid of being alone in a room—they specifically fear the mother leaving. They're afraid to lose sight of her and stay with others. This is not just anxiety but can develop into irrational fear and phobia. When others appear, such as a nanny, the child might panic. Some children fear losing sight of the mother so much they refuse to stay with anyone else, even familiar people like the father or siblings. Sometimes, the child feels anxiety if the mother threatens to leave because of misbehavior.
- Strangers. Fears and phobias can develop when a child is left with new people—relatives, friends, or nannies. The child doesn’t have time to get used to one person before another appears, becoming disoriented and fearful. This can become an irrational fear of clowns at parties. If this becomes a phobia, it can develop into a fear of crowds or being with strangers in elevators or public places.
Most phobias can be prevented by following simple safety practices:
- avoid overly bright lights;
- avoid loud noises and bangs;
- check the temperature of baby food;
- supervise bath time;
- avoid squeaky, overly loud musical toys;
- do not leave the baby alone for long;
- leave the baby with familiar people;
- keep sharp or pointed objects away;
- ensure the child does not climb high surfaces;
- install window safety barriers if needed;
- remove glass objects from places the child can reach;
- keep anything dangerous out of the baby’s sight.