All of a sudden my 8 yo son is afraid to sleep alone. He has been sleeping alone in his own room and sleeping through the night for many years until recently. He had a scary dream over 2 weeks ago and although I reassure him nightly that it was just a dream and he is safe and I'm right down the hall he gets very anxious, sometimes teary and begs me to sleep with him. He gets very nervous when bedtime approaches. I've taken him to his pediatrician who told him he must sleep in his bed and not with me. She also told me to give him herbal relaxation tea before bed, a warm bath and to use lavendar on his pillow and melatonin to help him sleep. I'm doing everything she said plus reassuring him that he will be fine. I am suppose to tell him to go back to his bed when he comes to my room crying during the night but it's so hard. I feel so guilty forcing him to face this fear alone.
I even made a 'magic spray' to spray his room before bed. The idea is that psychologically the "no bad dreams spray' will help calm him and he'll feel like the spray will in fact keep bad dreams from coming to his room. Sounds weird I know but it was suggested so I'm trying it.
Does anyone have any other suggestions with this? I feel so bad for him but I know it is not good for me to sleep with him at night, my husband wouldn't be too happy with that!

Thanks,
Tori

When my kids have bad dreams, they usually come into my room crying. I get up with them and take them to their bed. I usually sit on their bed for a few minutes with them. I rub their back and sing their special lullaby.(even my 9 yr. old) Just being with them for a couple minutes and calming them down helps a lot.

Hi nuttygirl,
sorry to hear about your son having nightmares, i used to suffer with them myself when i was young. they were so realistic and used to scare me for weeks.

i dont know if you have ever heard of them but my mum used to hang a ''dreamcatcher'' above my bed and above my window, they are supposed to ''catch'' the bad dreams and let only the good dreams in. most people think its just superstitious nonsense but it may help in the same sense of the magic dream spray.

:wave: hope this helps

The "dream catcher" idea is a good one. We've used it with both of our boys (ages 6 and 3). Definitely try it. Doesn't have to be a real "dreamcatcher." We sometimes, with our little one, put one of his dolls on top of his dresser and put them in charge of the dream-catching job.

Hi,
There is a book called "Solve your Child's Sleep Problems" by Richard Ferber that you might want to pick up and read. It may help.
If your child however, snores, is a restless sleeper or sweats with sleep, you will need to mention that to your physician. Those symptoms can be indicative of a sleep disorder that would need to be evaluted by a physician that specializes in pediatric sleep disorders. An overnight sleep study in a pediatric sleep lab is often ordered if your child is having the above symptoms that I mentioned.
Good Luck!