What worked before is no longer working

Hi all,

DD (15 months) has been such a great sleeper. She went through an unsettled period at about 6 months with going to sleep but we sorted it out and she was happy to have us sit or lay on the floor in her room until she fell asleep. No patting or anything, just be there and she would sleep the night through.....
a week ago... this is no longer good enough. She seems to have created some conditions. We have to sit next to her cot, close enough for her to be able to touch us if she wants to. She will choose if she wants her head to be stroked gently or not. Now this is ok but...everytime she wakes in the night she screams for us to go back in and sit by the cot until she falls asleep again. Most nights its only twice...last night 4 times!!. Sometimes i am so tired that if its close to 5 i bring her to our bed. I know this doesnt help the situation but all i think of is the hr and a half sleep i get b4 getting up to get ready for work.
I dont know what to do and would love any suggestions on how to slowly make my way out of her room so she is not dependent on me or DH to fall asleep again. I am dreading putting her into a bed at this stage as i can see her climbing out to sleep next to us.
Currently we go in, we have a cuddle for a few minutes and put her back in her cot, sit down and wait....
thanks for reading..sorry its a bit long

Seeing as she's put conditions on it all :D......could you perhaps choose two of them i.e. sit by her cot and stroke her head for a few days every time she calls. Then after that period of time, just hold her hand or put your hand near her face so she can feel it while you sit with her for the next few days. Then after that, just sit by her cot, even whispering to her soothingly that you are there, then the next couple of nights sit in silence............so kind of like weaning you both from each other in a gentle way?

If she fusses or complains, just be kind and firm and tell her what you are going to do, and then do that. If she doesn't want you to do one of the things you choose then don't, but don't swap to another thing each time iykwim? Be consistent so she gets used to the 'rhythm'. If you leave the room and she complains, unless she is in hysterics or distressed, if its simply a disappointed cry, just see what she does for a couple of minutes and then decided whether you go back in and sit with her some more or she might surprise you by the end of your weaning and go back to sleep (or not wake up when you leave!)

DD#1 did the same thing - every time she'd stir, even if I went in to check on her as I often did, as she was a light sleeper, before I'd even closed the door on the way out, she'd be in tears and I'd go in and try and tuck her in etc. but she'd only settle if I cuddled her. But! She wouldn't do that with DH, just me :rolleyes: He could move her every which way and she'd just go, yep, thanks, night. I was getting exhausted and I wasn't even working so I can't imagine how tired you must be! :hug: In the end, I'd tuck her in, stroke her face, kiss her and leave. I'd listen to her crying and on the most part, it was simply a cry of, "not happy with this new arrangement" :D If she escalated, I go in and give the cuddle but it didn't take long and I was able to reposition her at night, give her a kiss and jump back into a still warm bed ;) (DD#2 on the other hand, sleeps like a log! Lol!)

Imo, I'd wait until she is settled again over night before moving her because that might upset the apple cart on its own anyways. Maybe wait until a month or so of her sleeping through again before the big move. Anyways, hth love :hug:

Thanks for taking the time to write a detailed response. I will definetly be trying that. It still amazes me how quickly she is developing. Her understanding and ability to get her point across. :)