7 year old can’t go to sleep alone

[Roto15]

Help please MN. So we have always laid with our DS until he goes to sleep. It’s never been a problem as we take it in turns and given that both work full time and have fairly hectic life we’ve both always enjoyed the chance for a cosy wind down and cuddle. Sometimes it can be annoying but mostly he goes to sleep quickly and it’s a nice way to end the day with him. But now he’s 7 I think we have to figure out a way for him to learn to sleep without us as I don’t want it to stop him from doing sleepovers etc as he gets older. At the moment I think he would be resistant to doing them as he would need us to go to sleep. When other people look after him they stay in the room until he’s asleep but not in his bed. Obvs not an option at a sleepover with a friend. Not looking for judgement, we made our bed and are fairly happily lying in it. Just looking for any tips for those of you who have been through similar successfully so we can start shifting things up to help him be more independent. Thanks!

My nine year old is the same, but he went on a sleepover and was fine. Yet at home we have to lie with him till he's asleep.

My 7 and 10 year old are like this. Sometimes it’s annoying, sometimes it’s the only down time I have in my day to sit and scroll mindlessly on my phone. They are fine at sleepovers, if they share a room etc. it’s just the being alone they don’t like.
to be honest I don’t like going to sleep in an empty house alone, I do because I need to but somehow always feel better if not alone.

My DGD is nine and still likes company when she falls asleep, but she's perfectly happy to go on sleeepovers, school residentials etc. If you're happy to lie down with your DS I don't think there's any need to change what you're doing.

My 10 and 8 year old are like this. They're sharing a room at the moment, but still like one of us to sit with them for a bit after lights out. DC2 has been like this for years, DC1 only for the past year or so!

I'm assuming they'll grow out of it and won't want us sitting with them when they're teenagers (at which point I'll probably miss doing it). They're fine at sleepovers.

Thanks everyone, that’s really reassuring. He is point blank refusing to do sleepovers at the moment but he is generally a bit anxious about new places/people so hopefully he’ll be more up for them as he gets a bit older

I used to say "I'm just popping down to tidy the kitchen and I'll be back in 10 mins" or something like that. Nine times out of ten they'd be asleep when I went back. It's important you do go back though, to keep the faith if they are awake.
If their awake, you can do the bathroom next and go back again!