All my hard work paid off!
I think it's safe to say that my 2yo now puts himself to sleep :) Didn't wanna speak too soon as he's done the odd sleep before.. but every sleep so far since... argh.. can't remember! some time last week anyway.. I have just been tucking him in, reading a book, giving LOADS of cuddles (or huggles as they are in this house! LOL) and he stays in bed all by himself! Hasn't got himself up once! Sleeps through most of the nights now, but still is welcome in our bed if he does wake.
It all started as a punishment actually LOL. He was being especially rude to daddy, so i said I wasn't going to lie down him at bed time. There were a couple of tears, but he stayed in bed with the promise that I'd keep checking on him. And coz it actually worked.. I figured I'd keep doing it! Now I only have to check on him once! :)
I was thinking about it tho, for a while now I've had to get up and quickly check Kayla or something, and he was staying lying down, and he was always very proud of himself saying that "Ta-ttan stayed in bed!" (hehe.. love his little speech impedement ;) ) and so he got lots of praise for that. So he still gets lots of praise for not getting up, and I must say.. it's worked! yay! I can't believe how wonderful it feels to have kids that put themselves to sleep LOL. Kayla's been pretty good at it since day 1, only now & then needs extra cuddles for sleep.
So there you go. Fed to sleep for .. about 20 months? ... then still needed me to sit or lie with him, stroking his arm/face/back.. whichever took his fancy lol.. and now just needs lots of cuddles and he stays in bed.
*proud mummy*
and pfffft to all those 'rod for my back' people! i bet my 2 year old goes down for sleeps with less fuss than theirs ever did! :p