terrified to go to sleep....help!

[melissa75]

My three year old has started not wanting to go to sleep...ever From birth till now, has been a great sleeper, and we really had no problems with overnight or naps, so this is new territory for us.
Anyway, in the past 10 days or so, he will not go to bed unless one of us is laying in bed with him, and even then, is very clingy. Then it is like a different child in the day, not clingy, and the same old littleton. There have been a few nights when he has woke up in the middle of the night and we obviously have no longer been laying with him, and he absolutely screams and is almost inconsoloble.
I am mainly worried that us laying with him is going to become too habitual for him, and he will never be able to fall sleep alone again!
DH and I just are at wits ends as to what to do help to smooth him into a sleep transition. We had a great little thing going for our evening routine, and he was happy as anything and then the next day it was a total switch and we cannot figure out as to why.
Anyone else had this sort of experience? If so, please give us your tips as to how you helped your DC fall asleep again independently.

[melissa75]

forgot to say, he has become the same for naps in the afternoon. He was coming away from napping in the afternoon, but would still have a few in a week, as he gets himself really tired. On days when he would not sleep, he was content to have some down time in his room and play with his toys, but now he will not be in his room on his own or even go anywhere near his room.

[melissa75]

bump

[MiniMarmite]

bumping for you but sorry, no experience

[Oldermother]

Hi Just joined Mumsnet specifically for this problem so was so pleased (sorry!) to see someone else trying to deal with this.

Our 2yr 8months has been a fantastic sleeper and then suddenly for the past week has been a nightmare to get to bed, and also waking in the night screaming for mummy/daddy.

In our case we know it started with a thunderstorm early one morning which woke him and frightened him badly. Since then he hates his bedroom and won't go to sleep without someone holding his hand/stroking his head. Was awake 4 hrs last night crying and screaming - eventually passed out due to sheer exhaustion. Cannot go on and just don't know what to do!!!

Have recently converted cotbed to bed and now seriously thinking of converting back to cot to stop running around at night and try and do controlled crying or something.

Help!