[caroline_cow]

I have a 3year old son who usually goes to bed at 7.30 and goes within 10 minutes now he takes like an hour or more I suppose is my own fault as I lay with him until he falls sleep but I need to change this but is hard,as he is getting scared at night now of shodows on the walls and doesn't want me to leave him.what else could I try? As it is getting stressful.

[redhed35]

3 year olds have great imaginations, leaving a night light on and putting out 'magic dust' to keep the monsters away can work a treat.

Build a story around the 'dust', ask a grandmother in front of the child does she have any left from when you were small, (of course have her in on the story).

If he is normally fine going to bed,has something happened that may be upsetting him? Could he have overheard something he percieves as scary?

Go back to your usually night time routine,bed, bath,story, pour out the dust and don't lie down with him,you have to be consistent.

[jenniepepsi]

Has he had any major changes in his life? Anything at all? Anything maybe bothering him? My 7 year old has always been a good sleeper until these last few years (abuse issues and moving a lot) now she sleeps in my room with the light on