6 year old with awful sleep

[RuleWithAWoodenFoot]

Is there anyone out there still having to sit with a 6 year old until they are asleep?

Doesnt matter what time she goes to bed, it takes an hour for her to go to sleep - minimum - and then after one sleep cycle she's awake and downstairs again. Then maybe 3 hours later she's in our room wanting someone to sleep with her.

She's always been a bit shit at sleeping, but we've had periods of up to 8 months where she's fine- can leave her awake and she sleeps for 10 hours.

What's going on? She says she's scared, but can't tell us why - if we don't sleep with her she does full on 'wake the neighbours' howling and screaming. She can do that for an hour, which isn't ideal at 3am.

Any ideas?

No idea but I would put a mattress on the floor in your room and let her sleep there when she wakes up.

She won't need you close forever!

I could have written this post myself! Currently sat in the doorway of dd's bedroom. So far we have tried a star projector, worry monster, getting Alexa to read stories, getting her to draw what she is afraid of. None of this has worked for us she only wants me to be sat where she can see me.

Just wanted to offer my support I know how hard this is and how much is drains you

It's anxiety related I guess.

I wonder if the more you try and get them to sleep and be on their own the more anxious they get because they know you will leave them?

Does it work any better if you potter around up stairs tidying and cleaning and pop in every 5 minutes? Have you done the laying on a bed in the next room and reading a book, they can come and check that you are there and put themselves back to bed after?

I'm just thinking through the more you want your space (don't we all at the end of the day) the more they sense it and react to it?