My 7yo won't sleep in his bed help!!!

[gemmalouise36]

Hi I've already made a similar post a few weeks back but we are still struggling with this and have made zero progress. My 7yo saw something at the end of July on youtube that scared him, since then he will not sleep in his room. I have tried everything from explaining that it isnt real, rewards, punishments, continually putting him back to bed, new lights, dream catchers and probably more. Nothing is working. I don't actually think he's frightened anymore, it's become more of a habit, there are no tears unless I try putting him back and then it starts. He will not give in though and the whole house has been awake for hours in the night at times. Atm he comes in and I make him a bed on the floor next to me but that still wakes my partner every night and we are starting to really argue over it now 😒 I'm at a complete loss on what to do, gp and the school didn't have any advice really either. Please if anyone has been through this what did you do? or if you haven't but have some advice I'm all ears. We go away on a caravan holiday in 2 weeks and I'd really like this sorted by then. Thanks in advance ☺

To be honezt, I'd make a bed on the floor for him every night and settle him there straight away.

Mine at 7 had a few night terrors and slept with us, one of us would decamp to his bed for the night. It could last just one night or a week. We would just accommodate him and reassure him.

Always talk through his fears, acknowledge them, don't tell him he is silly. Tell him of a time you couldn't sleep because you saw xyz (scary film, dead pigeon, something on the news) and give him a hug.

I also had DS dra a picture or wrote about what it was that was scaring him then we'd throw it in the bin 'go away scary witch' type thing. Purely symbolic but it worked.

Huffing partner can pack it in

Is there a sibling that would share a bed for a couple of nights? Or swap rooms?

Make a bed on your floor and tell him that if he is scared he can come through and sleep there.

Thanks for your reply, yes partner is really annoying me! he feels if we had stuck with keep putting him back weeks ago it would be sorted by now (he also sufferers with a touch of insomnia so once woken struggles to go back to sleep) I don't agree and I also value my sleep so its been easier just bringing him in tbh. He has a 16yo brother but he has no patience for it either, thinks he's putting it on and just wants his own way (to sleep next to me) I firmly believe he has developed a habit of waking himself up in the night and then over thinking and coming in to me, I've even tried busy packed days of activities to wear him out and he does sleep longer, but was awake at 5am wanting to come in. It just seems like this is our life now......😒

Oh we've just been through this, the whole summer holidays he was like this worrying about going into yr3. I slept in his room with him, now I just have to "stay with him" for a bit after we have read. Usually manage to escape within 5mins now :)

Can you sleep in his room with him?

hi, yes for a good few weeks I was sleeping in his room but my back ended up getting really painful so I resorted to having him on the floor next to me (not ideal for his back either) He's fine actually going to sleep but will always wake between 11 - 3 and that's when it starts 😔

It's a real ballache, but he is young so I would continue to be reassuring. It might be, by now, that he needs reassurance about something else, not the YouTube thing.

Put him in his own bed, read him a story, surround him with his cuddly toys, tell him if he wakes up to come to your room to sleep, but that he mustn't wake anyone up.

((hugs)) it will pass

Then I'd probably ask partner to sleep is sons bed and have son in with me. But I'm quite relaxed about these things, they're only young once. I also only have the one child so it's quite easy for me to say this.

Get a comfy chair next to his bed, if you can’t lie comfortably in his bed with him, and take him back to his own bed every time. Kind, supportive, comforting but consistent and boring, returning him to his room and staying with him until he sleeps every, single time. I’d bet real money that he’s secure wit-hi three nights.

I'd make a slightly uncomfortable bed on your floor for him. Put dp in sons room and tell ds he can have his room back anytime but everyone needs their sleep and he can't wake people up anymore.

Lock your bedroom door so he can’t come in.

Try it once. Do

@Bonheurdupasse because that won't be scary at all