AIBU to ask for your advice - sleep disturbances in child due to grief

[KTD27]

Posting for traffic as my original in sleep didn’t get much.
Wondering if any of you have dealt with similar.

Two weeks ago my FIL died. It was a total shock and unfortunately happened in front of my 4 year old. Just horribly traumatic and awful.
For the most part, he’s doing ok. Lots of questions but generally ok.
However sleep is an issue. He’s always been a great sleeper - down for the night happily and sleeps right through until morning. Since last week he’s been up and down after settling for the night. Or waking in the middle of the night.
He’s said tonight he’s afraid of the dark which he’s never said before and I’m sure it’s all linked to his Grandpa dying. Not sure if he actually is or is just trying in his 4 year old way to explain away why he can’t sleep.

Do you have any tips to help get through this tough bit?

Hi not the same circumstances but my 6 year who has always been an amazing sleeper has started waking, crying, scared ect all night. What works for us is for the past 2 weeks each night I've made a bed on her floor next to her and slept there. Last night she slept all the way through like she always has before this happened. I just kept reassuring her it was ok x

So sorry for your loss. It sounds like it has affected him as I’m sure it would affect most adults.

My daughter is VERY sensitive and is the same age and has struggled with sleep issues due to worrying about dying etc. What I found helped was asking her to ‘give me all her worries’ because she went to sleep. You could probably get a worry teddy bear or similar and say the bear will look after the worries.

A charity such as Winstons Wish or similar could probably give you more formal support. Best of luck xxx

*before she went to sleep

I’d just have him in bed with us a bit.
Sorry about your FIL

I'd let him sleep in your bed for lots of cuddles. Poor lad must be very frightened.

@BrownBirdsFly that’s a lovely idea! Thanks I’ll give that a go.
And yes our bed is full of tiny feet at the moment which I absolutely do not mind I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing.