7 yo can't sleep

[pspc]

My 7 year old son has trouble sleeping. He was always a bad sleeper but lately it has gone worse. He needs us to stay with him until he falls asleep and he wakes up 4 to 5 times during the night crying he wants someone with him. He tries to come to our bed but then his younger sister wants to come over too and we end up not sleeping at all. Any advice? Nothing changed in his routine. He just says he is afraid of the dark (he sleeps with a night light on in his bedroom, another one in the hallway and one in the bathroom next to his bedroom). We don't know what else to do, he is so tired in the morning..

Is he still saying he's scared of the dark after the night light is on in his room?

That's telling you there's not enough light for him. I would take what he says at face value - the room is too dark and makes him scared. You could try:

• an actual lamp on rather than night light
• install a summer switch and leave the overhead light on
• do both the above
• do both the above plus leave bedroom door open plus leave landing light on.

My 12 year old still sleeps with the overhead light on, but dimmed.

My boys (10 and 7, they share a room) have a lamp on overnight. A proper lamp not a night light.

Nightlights actually throw out some scare shadows.

summer dimmer switch

Hey there, similar stuff with my 6yo ds, posted on another thread and got some good comments. He says he's lonely, think he wakes up needing a wee and is then scared of the dark. The only night he slept through this month was when I left his bedside light on - nightlight and fact house is really not dark (crap curtains and lots of streetlights!) doesn't seem to be enough. Someone also suggested relaxing story cds. Gonna try this tonight...

DS (8) has a lamp he can operate without leaving his bed. He also has a radio left on low, which I turn off after he's gone to sleep.