DS suddenly terrified to be alone

[NRmumma]

There’s been a huge change in my DS(4) behavior in the last 2 weeks or so; he’s suddenly become incredibly scared to be alone, even in the middle of the day, he won’t go to the bathroom alone, play alone in his room etc. nighttime’s are also a huge struggle, he won’t fall asleep by himself and is waking up multiple times a night.

We did move house which has been a change but this was about 2 months ago and he was fine until just recently. He says he’s scared, worried there are monsters behind him etc when I ask. We did make the mistake of letting him watch monsters inc once last summer which made him a little scared at the time (not like this though!). Otherwise he watches little TV and nothing scary or inappropriate (octonauts, paddington) and we don’t read scary books etc.

We’ve reassured him, explained he is safe, given him a nightlight, tried a star chart for staying in bed… any other ideas or recommendations welcome! TIA

I cannot help with this, but following as exactly the same thing has happened with my son (also 4). He doesn’t want to be alone at all.

Could another child at nursery or school told him a scary story? I was only 4 when an older child told me the toilets at school were haunted by a green lady, I was very frightened of being alone for a long time and had several toileting accidents as I was afraid of going to the toilets.

I didn’t tell anyone straight away so my behaviour would have seemed inexplicable.