"Scared of the dark"

[Chrissiem261725]

About 2 weeks ago my 3yo had his first proper nightmare which involved dragons coming out of the wall! Since then he's become more aware of the dark and is scared at night. He refuses to go to sleep without a parent nearby - we've managed to get him to go to sleep in the evening by saying we're on the landing behind his closed door. The real issue though is that he keeps waking himself up and then wants to get in our bed. Last night he was up at 11, 1 and 2.30. It took me 30 min to get him back to sleep at 1 and my husband and I 1 and a half hrs at 2.30. We've tried "magic spray", books about being scared, bought him a dreamlite pillow, letting him sleep in our bed, putting him back in his bed, bribery and blackmail but nothing is working. He keeps saying he's scared of something and that he has bad dreams. Had anyone been through this and have any ideas or advice? Getting rather desperate as also have 9mo who likes to start the day at 5!

[Lovelydiscusfish]

My 3.5 year old has a plug in nightlight, and a torch in her bed she keeps on all night - otherwise she gets scared, but with these she sleeps perfectly.