Night terrors/nightmares

[Itscurtainsforyou]

My little boy was born very premature and was in hospital for the first 7 months of his life.

He's now 2 and doing well (apart from not being fond of food and so is tiny).

But sleep is a problem. He doesn't like being left alone and we have to stay with him until he goes to sleep (or he becomes hysterical and then can't breath - I've watched him turn blue and that takes me back to the hospital where he had huge breathing problems). He wakes 2-3 times in the night absolutely distraught- crying from the moment he wakes. This is the same if he's in his bed or in bed with us (although tends to calm down more quickly if in with us).

I wonder if it's an attachment issue - not wanting to be away from us (although he's fine at nursery and going to other people etc) - but am concerned that he's so upset when he wakes up (several times) at night.

Does anyone have any pearls of wisdom?