4 yo and monsters. Help!!!

[Sonny23]

4yo ds, he's an awful sleeper and gradually getting worse.

He has become increasingly clingy to the point I'm going insane. I literally can't leave him or he has a complete meltdown.

This last week he has decided the reason he is so frightened is because of 'monsters'.

He will not stay in his bedroom because of monsters, I've tried different approaches from explaining to him there are no monsters and he is completely safe in the house, to saying no monsters can get in because monsters are scared of cats, to making a point of searching the whole house to show him there are no monsters. But he still isn't convinced.

Any other ideas before I loose the plot?

Firstly, pick a lane! He can't trust you if you keep changing your story!

There are no monsters. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Don't be overly sympathetic to it, but don't dismiss either. You have to find the happy medium. I would say firmly, 'Ds there are NO monsters. You are perfectly fine to be in the living room by yourself. We don't need this silly behaviour' or something along those lines. But also keep a light on, keep the door open, remind him you're just downstairs, pop in to him or walk past every now and then while he's falling asleep so he knows you're around.

Lots of children develop fears around this age, it's annoying but quite normal!

Thank you.

Will try to keep reassuring him.

I still have to sit with him until he's completely asleep