Hi. My son is 15 months old and although he has never been a good sleeper, we do ok now and he manages to sleep through most nights occasionally waking, particularly with teeth etc. But this is not why I am writing. My major problem now is that when i put him to bed I am unable to leave the room until he is fast asleep. He can fall asleep quite well, on his own in the cot, as long as I am nearby. As he has grown older and become more aware and more vocal this seems to be becomming more of a problem. Sometimes now he tries to play games with me while I am in the room, but i remain constant and don't engage. I have no idea how i got to this but am keen to move towards being able to leave the room once he has laid down. I realise i need to make small adjustments, in little stages and have been trying to do this. I have managed to get from standing hovering over his cot, to nearby the cot, then near the door and my plan was to stand in the doorframe a while, then just out the door with a hand on show and then not at all visible. But this seems to be where the plan is not working. Once i am out of the door but visible he seems unable to settle and keeps standing up. Do i go back in and lay down and leave again each time he stands up, do i shush from outside so he knows i am there. what steps do i take now, i have been standing by the door for a number of weeks and have tried being in the door frame for about a week. Tonight i went out completely and it took an hour for him to drop off , ending with me going in the room to settle him one last time at which point he dropped off. What can i do to stop this?
