About 7 weeks ago our toddler started waking at night, and only going back to sleep with myself or my husband in the room. This continued to develop to the point where she wouldn’t go to sleep at bedtime without one of us sat in the room holding her hand. 7 weeks later and it’s still ongoing, we’ve resorted to a futon on her floor for when we go in during the night, some nights we can leave and some nights it’s constant her checking we are still there.
prior to all this she was sleeping through and had been for 9 months, she was going to bed after a story and song and getting herself to sleep without needing us with her. Since starting this separation anxiety she then began nursery about 4 weeks ago which has been tough, so I know that’ll be heightening things.
looking for advice / past experiences on what’s best to do.
We have tried not staying with her at bedtime and letting her cry it out with us going in to soothe at regular intervals but it doesn’t work, we have tried numerous times and all she wants is for one of us to be with her. As I said we don’t always stay in her room all night but it really varies. We’ve had a few nights recently where she has slept through but these have been very few.
can anyone advise on what the best thing to do is? Should we keep sitting with her until she falls asleep? (this can take anywhere from 15 mins - 120 mins) How have others managed this?