every night she’s the same. She’s scared, she needs me to sit with her, she screams if I don’t. When will it ever bloody end? She’s 4 now, it’s been going on years! It’s not like it’s pitch black up there, we leave the door open with the landing light on and she has Marcus in with her. I’m so bloody fed up of this 
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Well, the un-pc approach would be to do with her what we eventually did with Maddy over the poo in the nappy thing( at 4 and a half) which was to call a halt and MAKE her do it your way. Which i guess might need several nights worth of holding the door shut on her while she screams.
Bit tricky really; i’d hate to do that, but i’d hate what you go through too. Is she genuine, or is she a controlling little madam? If i was answering that question over Amelie, i’d be holding the door shut while she screamed.
If you’ve got OU reading to do, can you do some sort of “I’d sitting by the door tonight while i read, outside it tomorrow, down the hall the night after, in my study the night after..” thing?
Comment by Merry — December 30, 2005 @ 8:43 pm
My DD will be 7 in 3 day’s time (eek!) and one of us still has to stay with her until she goes to sleep. I know it can be incredibly frustrating at times, but I get by with the knowledge that a) it won’t last forever and b) in ten year’s time we’ll probably be wishing she still wanted us in there
What sometimes works for us is if she listens to a favourite tape or CD instead of having one of us there. Could that work for you? We’ve found children’s meditation ones especially good for sending her off to sleep without a fuss. Good luck!
Comment by Nikki — December 30, 2005 @ 9:21 pm
Sb has seen giant ants and snails and slugs all around bed tonight, so every 5 mins I’ve gone up. we have 3 differnt nightlights - and a star of jesus [sigh] and a winnie the poo tape.
we don’t - luckilly - do this every night, perhaps 2-3 a week at most.
what about her being mouse quiet while you do as merry suggests - your OU stuff, in her room, by her door, just outside etc, or be like nic and blog while she falls asleep??
really feel for you though
Comment by HelenHaricot — December 30, 2005 @ 9:49 pm
Would it make you feel better to know that DS3 (aged 3.25) still sleeps with me because he won’t sleep alone? Thought not but it was worth a try
DS1 and 2 sleep with the light on, I turn it off when I go to bed. If you let her do the same then it takes away one excuse at least? When DS1 had a thing about monsters being in the room my Mum bought him round a bottle of monster spray. Empty spray bottle, water, glitter, bit of smell and let them spray it liberally round the room at night to get rid of the monsters. It did get him over the hump although it was rather wearing at the time. Good luck!
Comment by SallyM — December 31, 2005 @ 5:47 pm
Mark is 7 and still has one of us sit with him as he falls asleep most nights. Once we’ve said goodnight he’s not allowed to talk or faff about or we go and leave him to it which he hates, so past 8pm he has to be still and quiet and usually falls asleep quickly. Andrew reads next to him, I often get away with sitting a few minutes and then taking Luke in to our bedroom and watching TV or whatever, but I’m still right next door. Arguing about staying only revs him up so he can’t relax to sleep. I think he is genuinely scared and he has 2 night lights on but it doesn’t really help. Also bedtime is when Mark gets concentrated attention and one of us to himself (except when A is away and he has to share with L) and talks about his day. I just accept bedtime routine takes a good hour and a half and go with it - fighting it just gets us all cross. Can you stay but get on with something you need to do while she goes to sleep?
Comment by Kath — December 31, 2005 @ 9:03 pm