GW help - stuck at the door :/

[Mom-of-boys]

My DS1 has gone through phases where he wants us to stay with him while he's falling asleep at bedtime, but it has been an every night occurrence since our DS2 was born almost 5 months ago now.  We've been trying to do the gradual withdrawal technique but we're stuck sitting by the door within sight still.  As soon as he hears us getting up or a potential creak in the floor he calls out or looks to see if we're still there (we do have white noise for him too).  We're basically having to stay by the door until he falls asleep.  Any advice on where to go from here?!

[anna*]

Get a baby gate up at the door and sit out of sight. Reassure him with your voice only. We were held hostage the exact same way.

[zeri]

Yes, us too with DD. I would leave the door open only a crack and stand a bit farther way from outseide the door, and use my voice to reassure her. FWIW she is a champion sleeper now, first to sleep and last to wake!

[Mom-of-boys]

"Held hostage", I like that, lol. . Thankfully he doesn't get out of bed after we get settled in (at least not yet).  I will give the reassurance from the door a try, and hopefully that will start yo work for us.  Sometimes I think DH doesn't mind the extra time in the room, but if I have to do bedtime or an EW myself with 2 boys it just doesn't work.

[Mom-of-boys]

Well, today when I was putting him down for a nap, I told him I would be right by the door for him if he needed me.  Then I sat by the door, but half in the hallway so he couldn't see me.  When he called out, I told him I was still right there for him.  Then I stayed there a few minutes until he sounded settled down in his bed.  Does that sound like the right thing to do? 

[anna*]

Sounds great!