My 5year old DS told me in the early hours this morning that he's scared that he’s going to be killed by a monster in the night. He needs one of his parents with him to protect him from this, to either fight and kill the monster or at least to keep it at bay until he can get to the phone, call the police and they can put it in jail. So having a light on, or the door open, is no help to him. He actually needs a parent with him to protect him. The ideal is to have both parents but, if not, he wants Mummy in preference to Daddy because Daddy will just say “everyone has to sleep in their own beds”, thus leaving him alone and in danger. It is also important for reasons not clear that he falls asleep before the parent, hence his need to keep waking me if I nod off.
He seems to be genuinely concerned for his safety and is not comforted by being told there are no monsters, because he believes this to be a very real threat. The only way he will sleep is with me lying on the floor next to him, holding his hand. If I sneak back to my bed, he wakes and comes to fetch me again.
Last night I had 4 hours sleep on his floor! If nightlights and reassurances won't work, what will? I'm tempted to make some sleeping arrangements where we can comfortably sleep together easily but if my 3yo DD finds out I'm spending the night with her brother, she'll go ballistic!!
I believe my son needs the comfort right now but how long will this go on for??