Two year old - takes ages to settle, won't do so alone - help!

[Rollermum]

DD (2) has been in her own room and a single bed for a month. She decided the cot was no longer acceptable so we made the move.

She likes her room, doesn't seem scared or worried but she just won't go to sleep for ages without endless pratting about - jumping on the bed, about 10 separate sips of water, needing certain toys, then not needing them. Playing with the curtains. This is all with me waiting patiently next to the bed. I sit there being dull, not really engaging because if not she will not stay in bed. Not even for a minute... if I return to the room and leave her she just gets up again and demands I wait with her.

I rate the advice on Aha Parenting generally - quite gentle. So I've been happy to wait and hoped by now I'd be able to so end less time in there. But it is still taking at least an hour. I miss my evenings! She gets up 5.30/6 so I have to go to bed early, and this means I am eating dinner at 9pm if I'm lucky. DH has similar rates of success.

We are expecting DC2 in January - so this won't be an option. Any thoughts how to deal with this?

How dark is her room? Mine have black out blinds and did since babies (6&3).

My eldest just cannot settle if the room is too bright. My youngest can sleep with the light on!

Snap. I generally try and be gentle with littlies but both mine and dh patience is rapidly coming to an end. Hes our 4th! Dh just muttered controlled crying.

It sounds like she's not tired enough to sleep.
BTW what's an " evening"?

Believeit I bought blackout curtains especially for her new room. But she has recently but a bit scared by the dark so asks for the door to be open a bit so some light comes in. She settled perfectly fine in her cot - the same level of light. We just put her in, said goodnight and she went to sleep. It's the freedom of the bed without bars I think!

shutup hard isn't it?! With us it would be crying it out - it would just be her up and about the house at all hours!

Youare but she slept in the cot from 7.30pm fine before! Now conks out around 8.30/45. The only variables are the new room and single bed.

With dd1 I did gradual retreat. Bath, milk, teeth, story in bed. Sitting by bed, then retreating a short distance away every 3 days until I was outside the door. When she popped out of bed I would return no talking, just lie her down again and leave. Repeat. It took about a week of rapid returning before she gave in.

With dd2 we would not stay with her unless she lay down quietly and still, if she messed about I left. No water after a few sips, no changes of toys (they got taken away if she mucked about)

With ds (22 months) he has an Onaroo Danny the Penguin night light that fades through different colours mesmerising him to sleep. Doesn't always work first time so often have to go back, rub his back and sing to him.

Different children require different strategies. Maybe time to try something new and see if it works?

Thanks Another some good ideas to try there.

It is hard Roller