3 year old at bedtime

[mumlifex]

Ds turns 3 in 2 weeks time, never had an issue going to bed (never been the best sleeper through the night but always gone to bed fine)

He's suddenly taking about an hour to go to sleep every night, calling out for me and dp and crying. Anyone else's 3 year olds suddenly started this? Is it just a phase? Or a sleep regression?

Potentially just a phase, I have read that fears start to develop around this age - is there anything in the room that's scaring him? Would a nightlight or music help maybe?

When my daughter turned 3 she started really protesting going to bed, meltdowns, crying etc. She was suddenly afraid of the dark so we keep a light on for her and stay with her until she goes to sleep which doesn't take long. Does your DS still nap?

@takealettermsjones he has recently had his first ever nightmare and was so scared to go back to sleep (it was about a dragon he'd seen at a play area) and I stayed with him until he went to sleep and it didn't take too long. He still has his grow egg and white noise from when he was a newborn as he loves it 🤦‍♀️ maybe it is a fear thing, but he has great language though and would definitely tell me if he was scared, but he's not. He's more asking me 'why's the bath running' or 'what's daddy doing?' Or 'i want to go to the skate park' 😂

@Allthatjazz234 maybe I should just try staying with him for a while, does your dd now require this every time she sleeps? I'm just worried I'll be doing it for years if I start as my ds gets very comfortable with things a certain way! He doesn't really nap, occasionally 20 minutes in the car but most days he goes without 😊