5 year old taking forever to go to sleep

[Mavala]

For the past three years my son has always had my husband or I sat by their side when they go to sleep at night. He once was poorly and hallucinating with a high temperature and after that it was impossible to get him back in his bedroom to sleep without one of us being in there. Now he will lay in his room to try to go to sleep by himself and it’s taking over 2 hours. Last night within two minutes of me going in at 9 as he still wasn’t asleep he then fell asleep. I know it will take a while to break the bad habits we have formed. He lays there after a few times of getting up and pottering around his room, but how can I help him get to sleep quicker without being in there? Understandably they keep saying they can’t get to sleep after laying there for ages, I think I would feel the same way too.

It sounds ss if he needs the security of you. Hahe you tried saying im going but will be back in 10 minutes to check? And repeat.

Awe bless him. I don't think it's a bad habit to comfort your child to sleep. Equally if you're finding it unsustainable it's ok to try and move away from what you're doing. Gradual retreat can work well where you sit further and further away over the course of days/weeks. Or rewards etc at 5 might work well. I'd suggest if its taking 2 hours to go to sleep you might need re think wake time and bedtime. It might also be worth thinking about what you can do to tire him out during the day.