My son is nearly 26 months and we are having going to sleep at night issues now when he has been a great sleeper. Once he is gone he is fine but he is now crying "Mummy come back" lots. I go back each time (working up to waiting outside for one minute before going back). I just give him a cuddle in the cot then say "Its time for sleeping now, Mummy loves you very much and will see you in the morning" and come out. He was trying to draw out the wind down process - one more story etc. When I go back he is fine and wants to start to chat and will given any chance - Mummy wearing shoes, want another story etc etc. Hence the now not talking to him other than Its sleeping time etc. This can go on until about 8pm.
His bedtime is 7pm, waking up about 6.30 - 7am. Napping on days he is at nursery can vary but usually about 1 - 1.5 hours but on non nursery days he can still nap after lunch at about 12.15 until 2.30. It doesn't seem to make any difference to the sleep at night now whether he has had a long nap or not.
We have a daughter of 4.5 months too (who is a great sleeper) and his crying doesn't wake her in her room. He seems to have accepted our daughter well and is great with her is this delayed reaction to her ?
I feel if I keep doing what I am doing it will ease in the end but we have been having this most nights for 2 or 3 weeks now. Any suggestions please ? I am usually on my own at bedtime so my husband can't go in - but it is the same at weekends for him. We are trying to be consistent. Any tips ?