DS was a 'perfect' sleeper until March this year. Now he gets up 2-6 times a night. He says he's lonely or needs company. We ALWAYS put him back in our bed until 6am (so if he comes in at 5:50am, it's still back to bed!). That's just our choice. We did try putting him in with us a few times, but he wouldn't go back to sleep and would just wriggle/chat. He's asleep within five minutes if we put him back in his bed. We used to stand/slump!!! at his door until he went back to sleep, then gradually have lessened the time we stay til we now stay for one minute and can now leave while he's awake.

Our biggest help was to stop engaging with him - he'd be upset and we'd comfort, talk to him, cuddle him etc and he'd fully wake up, then be in every hour wanting more cuddles. So, we talked to him during the day and told him what we'd do if he came in during the night (walk him back to bed, tuck him in, stay one minute then leave. No big cuddles, no words.) Every night we ask to make sure he's had enough cuddles to last the whole night and tell him if he needs more that he's got blankies to hug. He can also put his hand on the wall if he needs to feel close to us. And every night we tell him if he wakes up he should try and close his eyes and go back to sleep before he gets up as we all need our sleep to be happy the next day. No miracle cure as he still gets up 1-2 times a night(some nights more), but tears are rare now and we're all in bed again in five mins.

I've never bought into the monsters stuff as it reinforces the idea that there's something out there that he needs to be scared of and protected from. Monsters in our house are friendly and good and there to help .