So we live in Scotland and the long daylight time over summer has meant that my toddler basically has never been outside when it's dark, except when he was a baby and can't remember it. He's 21 months.
I didn't realise this until the clocks changed and then we went out on Halloween with his big brother and he was shouting 'dark sky'! Really confused and freaked out, but excited and distracted by all the chocolate and costumes so that passed mostly without incident.
Then came fireworks night. Serious regret now about bringing him out but I brought his big brother out at the same age and he was fine so I was naive really. Just a short wander to look at fireworks in the local gardens in our village. He was so frightened he was physically shaking with fear. Brought him home, lots of cuddles, explaining it's all ok etc.
Since then, he will not fall asleep on his own. He used to put himself over easily and now it's 90 mins to fall asleep every night whether we are in there or not. If not, he screams the house down. To be clear, it is not possible for us to sit in there with him for 90 mins owing to commitments with other child.
I've tried a new nightlight with gentle changing patterns. I've recorded myself singing to him and play it quietly on an MP3 player in his room. I've played games with him with torches in the dark during the daytime with his brother to reset his thinking about the dark. I've also tried sitting in with him till he falls asleep, but as I say this creates problems with his brother as there's often only one adult here and then he wakes up frequently at night as opposed to sleeping through.
At the same time he's having tantrums and meltdowns in the day all of a sudden, really defiant and angry, tears about every little thing. Its been a total personality transplant over the last fortnight and we are really stuck as to what to do next. Any suggestions most welcome. Ta!