5 year doesn’t want to sleep alone

[N87]

Hi, I’ve never posted here but hoping for a little advice.

I have a 5 yo son who used to sleep like a dream. In the past few months that’s changed dramatically.
He wants us to lie with him until he falls asleep (which can take ages, sometimes over an hour). He’s all of a sudden scared of monsters (we reassure him a lot that they aren’t real/he is safe) and he now doesn’t want to sleep alone. He says it’s unfair that mummy and daddy share but he has to be alone. If he wakes up in the night he usually ends up in with us. I’ve tried to put him back to bed but he just cries/screams and then follows me back to bed!
I’m pregnant with my second so went this sorted asap. I’ve read a few things but not sure how to stop him from following me?
He started school in September and we moved house a year ago so a lot of change and his behaviour has shown it.
Any advice would be welcomed, thank you!

Oh yes, we had this with our DS. He's 5.5 now but around 6 months ago the fear of being alone in his room started. Even now if he has to go in a room by himself he'll rush in and out as quickly as he can with his heart racing.

We sorted bedtimes though with the help of his Yoto player. He falls asleep pretty easily with something calm to listen to. (I realised funny stories were a no no 😅)

There is a yoto card for sleep sounds as well but I've not needed to resort to this yet

Thank you!
He has music at bedtime but I’ll try a story to see if it’s any better ☺️

I saw a post saying their toddler was similar and they stuck a photo of mummy and daddy on the wall next to toddler bed and said they they weren't alone and can always see mummy and daddy etc. probably really hit and miss as to how well it works with different children but might be worth a go. Also read another post where someone explained to the child everyone was sleeping on the same level and imagine the walls aren't there and then you're actually all together anyway. again probably hit and miss but worth a go.