My 20 month old won't go to sleep alone

[Tryingmybest123]

Help! While I accept it is my fault and I should have got onto this sooner, I need to fix the problem with my 20 month old only wanting to go to sleep accompanied by me, my husband or my folks. He sleeps through the night and is great in that respect, but he needs someone by his side while he falls asleep.
I have a two week old and so this isn't really feasible now.
A friend has suggested controlled crying but I am not cut from the same cloth as her and don't think I can go through with it. I know I am lily-livered but I just can't do it! Are there anymore other ways of getting this sorted?
Thanks

Gradual retreat? Much gentler than CC, you can go at a pace that suits you and the DC best.

Good luck!

Gradual retreat worked for mine LO too at 22 months old. I wouldn't have believed it but it did.

You can easily google it but a summary from me:

• stopped holding her hand through the bars of the cot (a few tears)
• moved to sit at the end of the cot instead of lying next to her cot (a few protests)
• moved to sit outside the door just in sight of her (a few questions from her)

-included 'pottering' into the 'I'm just the door' routine e.g just going to the toilet/folding clothes After about 3 weeks we were able to close the door and say goodnight. She still says 'sit outside' and we say we will but we never do as she's asleep in 5 mins usually.

Will give it a go.
Ta!

Thanks!

Appreciate the advice. Thanks

No problem. Good luck, come back and let us know how it goes!

And didn't have time to say before - no need to beat yourself up about being in this position in the first place. It happens. I've spent my fair share of time trying to sleep on a freezing nursery floor, my head badly pillowed on a pack of nappies, thinking "WTF am I DOING...".

Puntastic

Am debating giving my two week
Old a dummy, but having given one if them a bad habit, am loathe to create another one with the new fella!