Afraid of sleeping alone

[ratrout]

I have a six years old daughter. She used to sleep in her room by herself last year without any problems. But when we came back from  our summer vacation, she is terrified and refuses to sleep by herself. Her brother is 3 years old and he has his own bedroom and he sleeps without any problem. I stay by her until she sleeps and in the middle of the night she wakes up and comes to sleep in our bed.
I tried to talk with her more than once trying to figure out why she is afraid and from what. She always has the same answer" I am not afraid but i need you to sleep by me".

Thank you

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Your daughter is typical of many children who display this separation anxiety at night. That it, it is not that they are afraid of anything in particular, so there's no point really in asking about it. What you have to do, in a sensitive and patient but straightforward way is set a firm limit. If and when she comes to your bed, take her back to her own bed. Yes, you'll get some fussing and upset, but bite the bullet and you'll get through it. Also, stop having her fall asleep with you there. While you don't mean to, you are teachig her that she needs you in order to fall asleep.