Hi
My 5 year old son has always been demanding at bedtime. Things are getting really difficult now, though. He is terrified to be left alone in his room, even with the light on, and requires to be "cuddled down" until sleeping in his bed. This takes ages, and has impacted on my evening time to myself.
He has been like this for almost 2 years now. I used to be able to leave him in his room and go downstairs, occasionally shouting up to him to go to sleep. He seems to have got worse now he's older.
Even once he falls asleep, he creeps into my bed most nights around midnight.
I think I have indulged him for a quiet life. The background is that my STBXH was a drinker, and we had a really difficult homelife. I left my H and set up a house on my own a few months ago. My DS1 had quite bad maternal separation anxiety, which is vastly improving. I have 2 other children aged 3years and 18months.
So, it's tough as I do all the night settling. And he wakes up tired most days.
Any advice greatly appreciated - thanks!