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“Hi I was just wondering if you or any mums out there may have any advice for me about my son who turns 2 on Thursday. For the past couple of months he has gone from being the perfect sleeper to being terrified of going to bed alone. He will sleep all night and isn’t scared when he wakes up or if he does in the night whether at home or having a sleep over at the grandparents place but when he goes to bed he makes you lie down with him to sleep. If you leave he cries but not just a little cry its a distressed cry, but if you stay he just plays games. Night is the only time I have to study and run my business or spend time with my husband and this is eating into it a lot. We are planning to have another child and so this can’t keep going. He has a musical toy and a star turtle light as well as a night light incase he wakes up but isn’t afraid of the dark and reacts the same way with or without these. He has his Ted, we read stories and he knows when he’s tired and waves to his dad and drags me into the room to go to bed. We’ve tried the let him cry and he does go to sleep that way after a while but he is clearly terrified. Last night he latched onto my hand wouldn’t let go and said mumma every now and then to check I was still with him this lasted a couple of hours. He has always slept in his own room without us or any assistance. His anxieties are now showing in his swimming lessons and won’t let go of me or be separated from me but has always loved swimming. I just want to help him but don’t know how. Any advice would be appreciated”

Posted by Anon, 04/04/13

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  • I think it’s a normal phase in a child’s development and is an essential stage in the development of it’s personality and healthy attachments and relationships.


  • Aw bless, It’s hard to see our kids terrified, isn’t it ?!


  • I think it’s normal for kids to start worrying about things as they learn about new things. It will pass.


  • Very normal! Both mine! It was interesting reading the comments on this!


  • I found with my daughter, it’s a phase they go through I hope things have improved for you both now


  • Try giving him a Teddy you choose together from store for bedtime. Put your perfume on it. Let him see you do it. To be there in a form on his new bedtime Teddy.
    Try a dream catcher in bedroom. To give good fun dreams.


  • Try laying next to him while he goes to sleep!!


  • Have you tried ‘good spray’ (just lavender and water) to make sure that ‘he has lovely dreams and nothing can hurt him’? Or perhaps one of those talking bears with your voice reassuring him when he presses it?


  • could you lay next 2 him until he goes 2 sleep . ?


  • how was everything now ?


  • Hope you managed to find the answer you were looking for.


  • I hope you found the answers you needed


  • Hope you got the advice that you needed


  • Sounds like it could be a phase. Most kids go through this. If it is concerning you then pop into the gp and get their advice.


  • How is he going now? Did any suggestions help?


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