Help! Bed time is a nightmare

[GillL]

I'm hoping someone can tell me there's light at the end of the tunnel. My dd is 22 months and goes through phases of being a complete nightmare at bed time. When she's being good it only takes up to 30 minutes to get her to go to sleep at night. When she's being bad it can take up to 3 hours to get her to go to sleep. We can't leave the room because she will scream and scream and make herself sick within a few minutes. So, we have to stay with her and say 'lay down' and 'stop that' the whole time. DH and I take it in turns to sit with her because she winds us up the whole time.

She's still in our room but will be going in her own room in a couple of months time (dh finally has the incentive to decorate now the next one is on the way). I'm hoping she'll be much better because we're going to be turning her cot bed in to a bed. Has anyone had any success with doing this? Another question I have about putting her in her own room is should make a complete change and make her have her milk before she goes to bed? She seems to use it as a comforter?

Sorry for the long post. I'm really reaching the end of my tether.

[sunnysideup]

Gill, you are a trooper, well done

[GillL]

Final update:

Had a great night last night. Put dd to bed just before 8pm, read her a story and she had some milk. I put her in the cot and she told me to sit down on the bed where she could see me. She layed down and was asleep by 8:10!!!! I didn't have to tell her to lay down once. I am so pleased and really hope it continues.

Thanks everyone for all your help. Looks like we've cracked it.

[sunnysideup]