14mth bedtime turned into nightmare... please help before I give up

[GreenFingeredMummy]

My dd has lost the ability to put herself to sleep. Shes a good sleeper, goes from 8 till 7 but now I cant get her to go to sleep without staying in her room till shes sound asleep. I've recently stopped working full time and so instead of driving her back from my mums at 7pm and then putting her to bed shes now already at home and in her cot. I dont know whether to start a new bedtime routine as I could be back at work anytime (am a temp). During the day shes will sleep in her cot at home on a morning but only ever in the pram on an afternoon and when at my mams.

Shes also really clingy now. Any advice would be great as Im beginning to lose me cool...

[MegBusset]

This is a classic age for separation anxiety, also the change in routine could have unsettled her. I would try a 'gradual withdrawal' method whereby every night you go slightly further away from the cot until you are just by the door, then just outside the door. If you want a more detailed explanation then searching should throw up a few threads on it.

Is she still having two naps a day? If so, I would drop to one nap and see if that helps, too.

[GreenFingeredMummy]

I have started gradual withdrawal tonight, not sure if Im doing it right, but I stayed at the bottom of her cot and only had to settle her twice. She was asleep after 20mins so hopefully on the right track, not sure about how well she will take it when Im at the other side of the room tho!

Yes she has two naps, either in her cot or pram for morning one and always in her pram for afternoon. At the mo she sleeps from around 9.30-10 to 10.30 to 11 and an afternoon naps varies but usually lasts about an hour. Ive no idea how to go to one nap as she gets really ratty if she doesnt sleep on an afternoon and a morning I dont think she would make it to lunch - any suggestions?