I think Yorkiedaze hit the nail on the head. In Toto's case, she had
never been afraid of thunder/lightening in her life. We were having dinner with some friend's one night when a storm suddenly came up. Karen
immediately reached for Toto and began telling her "come to Aunt Karen, I know you're scared of that old storm!!" Truth was,
Aunt Karen was
terrified and she traumatized my baby!
It took us about 1 1/2 to 2 years to get Toto back to her brave little self and ignore that old thunder monster!! She pretty much ignores storms now and, if she even acknowledges really bright lightening, she may give a little bark at the patio door like she's saying, "c'mon, you want a piece of me???"
We simply don't make a big deal of it and remain calm ourselves and it seems to put her at ease!!
There is nothing more pitiful than a little one who is inconsolable.