Advice needed… my 2.5 year old daughter sudden won’t go to sleep unless she thinks I am and gets very upset

[EsouthA]

My 2.5 year old daughter has since newborn been an amazing sleeper, no issues getting her to sleep or staying to sleep.

The last 3 nights have been a challenge, she has the same normal bed routine of dinner, wind down time and cuddles, gets changed for bed, brush teeth and read book. Nothings changed in her routine but for the last 3 nights she has been asking if mum (not daddy) is going to bed too, the first night I said yes and that I was tired and that was it no problem but that last two nights I’ve said not yet, soon and she has just got so upset out of nowhere. I explain to her when she goes to bed mummy and daddy relax and we will go to bed soon but she’s getting so distraught at the thought I’m not going to bed. It’s come completely out of nowhere that I know of anyway.

I wondered if anyone has experienced this or has any advice for us as I don’t want her getting this distraught right before bed.

Once we calm her down she’s goes to bed and then she goes off to sleep quickly like normal and sleeps a good 11/12 hours like usual so I don’t think it’s the sleep that’s the problem. She just doesn’t want to go to bed unless I am??

Thanks for any advice in advance x

That is very cute, she has just worked out that you get to have lots more fun and she is missing out!

I was a path of least resistance person so I would probably try saying something like 'yes, as soon as I can as I can't wait to get to sleep' and play along with it.

My DS 7 does this - I think in his case it’s for reassurance as we’ve had some difficult stuff to deal with. it’s frustrating knowing he’s lying awake waiting for me esp when he’s gone to bed at a sensible time … so I sometimes go up and read just so he’ll go to sleep, but it’s not ideal. Will be interested to hear any suggestions to resolve this.