My 3 year old is waking up scared during the night.

[angela5]

my 3 year old was sleeping happily through the night, but has recently started waking regulary during the night saying he is scared of his bedroom but it changes what he scared of from night to night, we have tried lots of different things to help but nothing seems to be working, we have tried night lights, checking wardrobes etc with him before sleep, a fan incase he's hot magic stars to protect him, we bought him new bedding and curtains that he picked himself, i've tried sleeping on the floor in his room but he just wanted to get down there with me, giving him food and milk before bed. I am running out of ideas and i am now very tired! Has anyone got any ideas or suggestions on how to deal with this problem?

how about this:
magicsparklefairyspray

works for dd1!

just been going through this with dd. it's their imagination kicking in. she got better when we left her door open, and after a few months i could tell it was just habit. now, if she gets up, she sleeps on the floor or puts herself back to bed. call your hv, m8ine was fantastic & sooo supportive & lovely - totally sympathetic & wanting to help. she had loads of practical ideas (star charts, protective teddy, screening tv books etc, magic chant at bedtime). things aren't completely back to normal, but are getting a lot better. sometimes children are given sleeping medicine just for a week or two, to get them back into routine, once the nightmares have stopped.
know what you mean about tired - dh is useless at night but we resorted to taking turns in the guest bedroom with the door firmly shut as i got to the stage of unstoppable tears & wanting to give up my job.
good luck

Angela5, I just go with the flow and let dd sleep with us tbh. Either in our bed or drag her mattress in and she sleeps at the bottom of our bed. We are thinking of in investing in one of those mini roll-up futons actually.

Does your ds have nightmares? Are there any changes in his life - new baby, starting playgroup etc? Imo, if it's a fear of the dark (or whatever) there's not a lot you can do except constantly reassure them and not make light of their fears/worry.

last night i tried music in his bed room disney songs, i put it on repeat and left it to play quietly all night and then i was really mean and said if you come in mummy and daddy's bed you can't have your dummy, but that didn't work he said fine and slept with out them for the first time since he was about 4 months old, {in our bed!}