Reply to 4 yo DS has been completely falling apart at 5 every day....

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[quote=Anonymous]I do think you need to work on getting him to fall asleep and stay in his room alone the whole night, OR have him sleep on his mattress in your room the whole night. The fact that he is rousing himself mid sleep during a light part of his sleep cycle to seek something out (you) is what is causing him to not STTN again.

As a parent of a kid with anxiety, I know it feels heartbreaking to make them tough it out through something like this, but with my DD, we would do all the comforting stuff and it would get worse, not better. We would buckle down with some gentle tough love and after a few nights she would be sleeping through the night again and was happier and less anxious throughout the day. Here are a few things you can try:
-He picks out a new stuffed animal for comfort
-New nightlight (low light or red light to not distrust sleep—but one that stays on all night, don’t turn it off or that’s something else that will be different mid sleep cycle)
-give him a coin or button or whatever that is his one “get mom and dad coin” for him to use once a night if he has a nightmare or feels sick...just having control over that and not thinking you’ll never let him come to you again can help. 
-nothing wrong with some bribes upon waking...if you stay in your room all night you’ll get this lego kit you’ve been wanting. And I’m not saying for 5 nights in a row or whatever...for the first night. It’ll give him the incentive to stay if he can, and that will give him confidence. 3 $5 gifts in a row is worth it to kick good sleep back into gear.
-stay calm! Don’t get mad, but also be consistent and don’t give in. Good sleep habits are so important. [/quote]

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