My ds is 2.2 and from about 6 months old up to about a 4/6 weeks ago he has been put in his cot awake and has gone off to sleep on his own quite happily after a few minutes of chattering away to himself. But no more! He was pretty ill for a week or so and now refuses to go to bed on his own. Unfortunately my dp has now got into the habit of staying with him until he goes to sleep and I am afraid that this is more than a phase and that perhaps we have to just let him cry it out. He is a very very strong willed child and doesnt just cry .. he gets full on hysterics and makes himself sick pretty quickly if left to cry. Does anyone have any advice or do you think we just have to leave him to it? Im torn largely because my dp doesnt seem to mind sitting with him of an evening until he dozes off and I hate the idea of night after night of hours and hours of screaming but I think it is probably going to create more problems in the long run as he is already starting to wake up early and not able to settle himself!