3 year old suddenly resisting bed, scared of the dark and door closed!

[LeahH]

My previously champion 8pm/8am sleeper has suddenly developed some really bad sleep habits. Admittedly this kicked off with a recent trip to Europe where she slept in a room with either our helper or us. We moved her to a big bed also for the trip which probably didn't help.

Now she demands the door open, a light on and seems terrified of going to bed in general. We have put her back in her cot for familiarity, put a new night light in with her, but she still cries/screams unless the door is wide open. If we are in bed in the next room with the door open she seems comforted so definitely fear?

She's waking my little one up also - which is awful as we are in the middle of controlled crying with him and have to go through all the pain again when she wakes him. He also got used to sleeping with us too unfortunately.

I'm confident we will solve the problem with the little one through controlled crying, but the 3 year olds problem seems different and she's that much older.

Do we just close the door and let her cry it out - she really screams hysterically if we do. Or do we keep on with 'reason' and other methods?

Any suggestions gratefully received.

 

[wanfamily]

My 4 year old started getting scared of the dark at around age 3. I think it's a pretty natural thing as their imagination starts to go nuts at this age. We let her sleep with the door open if she is afraid and sometimes she needs the light on. When we go to bed, we leave her door slightly ajar. It works for us as we don't find it interrupts our normal routine.
Would be interested in any articles etc on children fears at this age if anyone has any suggestions.