Help! 2.3 DD suddenly hates bed time!

[mousseschoice]

My DD has suddenly begun screaming at bed time, despite going happily to bed up until Tuesday since 14MO.
She will only fall asleep if I put my hand on her back, so is it a sudden phase? Nothing has changed in her routine this is a complete overnight thing, and she is still sleeping through, she just needs me to fall asleep?
Any advice would be appreciated!

Definate phase. My DD1 2.7 suddenly did this. We just put her back in bed and said we don't need to sit with you as you are a big girl etc. She then was really good for ages and then suddenly last week she kept getting up repeatedly after being put too bed and we had to introduce a reward chart so she gets a sticker if she stays jn bed. This seems to be working for now...

Could be needing less nap? My son did this from 23 months until I eventually let him drop the nap.

I am in exactly the same situation as you OP, I also have a 2.3 yr old (DS) who until Tuesday this week went to bed like a dream and has done so since he was 4 weeks old. I'm completely flummoxed by his sudden reluctance to go to bed, every night since Tuesday he has cried and refused to get into bed, and has tried every excuse in the book to avoid getting into bed.

I'm watching this thread with interest to see if anyone else has experienced similar and come out the other side so to speak. The only new thing in his life that has happened is that last week we gave up he bottle and now he has his bedtime milk in a beaker, result of which that his milk consumption has dropped like a lead balloon. I'm also due DC2 in 4 weeks time, so as you can imagine this is the worst time to start having sleep problems...

Well...
It took about half an hour to get her to sleep last night (stood by the foot of the bed), and silly me thought hurrah(!), went in later at 945pm (as I always do) to check on her to find her awake and waiting for me... I tried everything - including walking out, then putting her back in bed whilst she was crying (screaming infact), in total of about 57 times (I counted to keep calm!!), tried standing at the end of the bed again, but nothing worked!! We had giggling, squeaking, and generally happy noises to get my attention.
Eventually I went back into my room, and along she came...Was so tired she got into bed with me and dp and went to sleep...this was about 12:30pm and she was back up at 6!
She normally never sleeps with us unless shes poorly and I hate feeling like I've given in to her for the want of a better word, but I couldn't stand her sobbing
She very rarely naps in the day, so shes usually really tired at bed times, so tonight we're going to keep her up and see what happens...
Ooh I forgot to mention...I work til 10pm on a wed, and dp puts her to bed etc, but this was the first night it started and she was still up when I got in at 1020 (bedtime is normally 615) and I came in, and took her to bed and she went to sleep no problems. So it makes me wonder if shes not tired enough (dispite being up 11 odd hours) or a phase, or she just wants to entertain us??
I hope know its a phase, but its a shock to the system when shes been an angel or about a year, but thats all about being a parent!