Scared of the dark....

[smee]

DS(5) is suddenly terrified of the dark. He has a night-light in his room and also there's a lamp on the landing, so his room's very far from dark. Last night he went to sleep okay, but woke at 1am and wouldn't go back to sleep until DH stayed with him. As he was so tired and emotional DH agreed and ended up kipping on the floor for an hour. But now of course, DS will expect this every time he wakes. I'm totally sympathetic, as it's genuine fear - I remember how it feels from when I was little - but equally I don't want one of us to have to sleep on the floor in his room every night. Must be lots who've been through this, so has anybody got a magic wand solution??

bumping, because it's my turn if he wakes up tonight and I'm already knackered at the very thought of it..

Could you give him a flashlight that he can turn on himself?

Nice suggestion, but he had one, but he spent the whole time playing with it, so it kept him awake..

Dd's light is on a dimmer switch and sometimes it's darker than otherwise. But often she has it higher than any night light would be. Also, as it's overhead, there are fewer odd shadows. I creep it down over time - but if she has a particularly bad phase I can turn it back up.

In short, maybe he needs more light, at least for a while.

I like the idea of an overhead light - that's definitely one we haven't tried and the shadow thing is a main contributor. I tried last night making his room a bit lighter by putting his fairy lights on and he moaned it was too bright . Bedtime soon, so we shall see. Thanks though Acinonyx; great suggestion.

ds has one of these and as well as a wall light from ikea (like this). usually he just has the elephant thing on but if he's getting bothered by the dark then we have the star on too.

My DD (10) sleeps with the night light and the main light on. So much for global warming! But she is now going through a scared of ghosts phase so is in with me most nights. Anything for a bit of sleep.

thanks choufleur - I like the animal lights. He's got something similar but it's a small round one. Might move that a bit closer to him tonight.
Krugerellie - you're far far nicer than me. I'm worried about saying he can come in with us as I'll never get him out again.
DH's reading him a story, so we have the whole night ahead...