A great sleeper for the 1st 2 years, takes 2 hrs plus now to settle

[shanice]

E has been sleeping through the night since I stopped breast feeding him at 8 mths. We have story time in our bedroom at 18:45 then bed at 19:00 in his room, lights out, good night and he goes straight to sleep. For the past 10 nights he has screamed when I leave the room, I have tried controlled crying but each time I go in to settle him he gets more upset when I leave. I have also tried leaving him without going in, but he gets hysterical and then doesn't settle at all for hrs. We thought that maybe he has become unsettled by the thought of father Christmas. He is a very happy and active 2 yr old during the day and this whole experience is not only very upsetting for both myself and my husband but for E too. Any ideas or suggestions would be warmly welcomed, thanking you in advance

I could have written your op, and so could a number of others... I can't believe how the two year old who has been sleeping through the night since 5 weeks old could suddenly be needing us in with her to settle and also have it happen at least once through the night aswell...

DD is fine, right up to the point that we actually lay her in her bed, hut the minute we try and leave the room she starts to cry...

So, no solution as yet but I've been told by several sources (both on here and in real life) that this is just a phase and they will grow out of it. It is apparently very common at this age and just another area of development of their imaginations as they start to dream. You have to try and find a solution for yourself and stick to it. With us, DD doesn't even need us to speak, just for us to be there. So I am, right at this minute, sat in the doorway to her room, typing this on my phone. As soon as she is asleep again, I will leave the room again.

It is really tough and I am dreading it when I go back to work on the 9th of January as I start at 7 and my husband starts at 5 so we will be shattered, but my Dh keeps reminding that its just a phase... hang in there...