My Son Won't Sleep Alone

This behavior is common among children. With any change comes anxiety and fear, which can be caused by several factors in child. First is change itself. Second is the environment. With the seemingly sudden departure from the comfort of his parents' room to his own room, a child finds it difficult to adjust initially. Third is the child's personality and temperament. A child who is confident and gregarious for instance is less prone to anxiety.

Here is what you can do to help your child be more comfortable sleeping on their own:

1 - Check for any sleep disorder

Ensure the child doesn't have a sleep disorder. When a child wakes up crying in the night, it could be due to nightmares or night errors, a common sleep disorder in young children. Usually the child is aware of a nightmare but may be less aware of a night terror. In both situations, it is important to put the child back to sleep. For night terrors, the child is still in a phase of sleep and should not be woken.

2 - Build his confidence

Take steps to boost the child's confidence. A confident child is less susceptible to anxiety, fear and worry when he faces a new environment or situation. For example, encourage the child to ask the waiter for a straw or spoon when having meals at restaurants and other eateries.

3 - Acknowledge and face the fear

Acknowledge the fear and anxiety that the child may have with regards to sleeping in his room. But allow the child to face the fear as part of his growing up, hence encouraging him to keep sleeping on his own.

4 - Reduce your own anxiety

Parents need to understand that fears and worries will never harm a child. A crying child, though disturbing, will not experience any serious side-effects. One way of helping children overcome their fear is by the adult modeling good "fear copying" behavior.

5 - Make his room comfortable, personal and cozy

Use soft beddings in his favorite color and print, and warm lighting to create a cozy atmosphere in his bedroom. Also make sure his toys and belongings are there. Where possible, involve your child in decorating his room and deciding what should be placed in the room. This allows him to identify the room as his own.