Don't know if this is helpful but I saw the 'baby whisperer' on Sunrise the other day and she had an example of a child that needed his mum to feed him so he would go to sleep. He was about 12 months. Basically he was being picked up too soon upon waking and didn't realise it was ok to be alone in his cot. The way they solved it was teaching him it was alright to play in his cot. This made hime feel more secure.

Like I said I don't know if this will help but anything's worth a try.