If you’re curious about what it feels like to be in a genuine horror flick, just spend an evening with children. If you don’t have any of your own, consider borrowing a friend’s for a weekend adventure. When night falls, the atmosphere transforms, and as the witching hour approaches, the unsettling sounds of the house come to life—creaking floorboards, clattering dishes in an empty kitchen, and whispers that vanish as soon as you try to listen closely. It’s during these hours that children tend to rise from their slumber and engage in all sorts of peculiar behavior.
As someone who is already easily spooked, I’ve had to muster up courage since becoming a parent—unless I want to spend excessively on therapy for both myself and my children. I’ve learned that downplaying my fears is essential if I hope to get any sleep, and it’s crucial in preventing my kids from becoming frightened of things I can’t even confirm exist. Here are some of the eeriest moments I’ve experienced as a parent:
- Sleep Laughter: It’s never funny to hear a child chuckling in their sleep after midnight.
- Night Terrors: These moments are genuinely terrifying. After screaming, my child would gaze through me with a blank stare, wandering the room as if everything was unfamiliar.
- Silent Standers: Waking up to find a child quietly standing by my bed is a surefire way to give me a heart attack. The dark silhouette inches from my face, followed by a soft, “Hello, Mommy,” sends chills down my spine.
- Freaking Out Over Imaginary Fears: One night, my daughter climbed into bed, trembling and insisting she needed to return to her room. After I brought her back, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever frightened her had now joined us.
- Sleepwalking: One night, I woke up to check on the kids and found one sound asleep on the couch, eyes partially open, as if she was watching something on the TV.
- Odd Questions: While getting my 3-year-old ready for bed, she asked, “Which way do Grandma and Grandpa live?” After I pointed north, she hesitated and then pointed out the window, asking, “What about her?”
- Room Fears: In our previous house, my kids went from being comfortable with closed doors to freaking out if I shut them. We ended up keeping their door propped open with weights and the lights on all night.
- Crying Over a Closed Door: It’s even more unnerving when they cry about a door being shut that I left open.
- Strange Lights on Monitors: Over the years, we’ve seen orbs and shadows on baby monitors, and as my kids sleep, their eyes sometimes glow, looking almost black.
- Curiosity About Noises: After I reassure my kids about strange noises, I often find myself peeking out the window, half-expecting to see something terrifying.
Who needs a Ouija board when you have little ones and a baby monitor? While creepy happenings can occur without kids, having them around certainly amplifies the eeriness—perhaps even attracts it. I find myself losing more sleep over their peculiar reactions than anything else. It would have been helpful if the “What to Expect” books had covered these topics comprehensively, especially the part about waking up to a child whispering, “Hello, Mommy,” in the dark.
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Summary
Children often exhibit strange, eerie behaviors at night, creating a spooky atmosphere for parents. From sleep laughter to night terrors and silent standing, these moments can be both unsettling and humorous. While kids amplify the eeriness of nighttime, they also bring joy and laughter amidst the fears.