Ask an expert: Child fears sleeping alone

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Q: My seven-and-a-half-year-old son has recently become afraid to sleep alone. He wants to sleep with his brothers or in our room. We have no idea why this has happened and are very concerned.

A: This is a very common problem. Sometimes children can identify what's upset them, other times a child may have no insight into the issue. Television, movies and the news are frequently the causes of unexplained fears.

There are many equally good ways to help your child resolve this fear. Use daytime to talk about fears and nights to solve them.

Before you say goodnight, ask your child to choose a favourite place or activity in the event that he wakes up during the night.

Let your child sleep with the lights on if needed.

There's nothing wrong with sharing the room with siblings. But rather than bring your child into your room, I'd suggest that if needed, you camp out in his room, and then wean yourself out of the room.

If your child is experiencing problems beyond bedtime, it's worth having a chat with your healthcare provider.

Good luck,
Dr. C.