This came out of nowhere. My daughter has literally put herself to sleep, alone, with no problems for 2 years. She has always been a hearty wonderful sleeper. She's been in a twin bed for several months because the crib wouldn't contain her any more. Suddenly a couple weeks ago with seemingly no trigger, she has intense anxiety and fear about being alone for nap and bedtime. I got her a projector light which she loves, we've beefed up our normal bedtime routine, and we're now leaving the door open with a baby gate to keep her in. She will work herself up to the point where she's hyperventilating and choking if we leave her. So we've been sitting in her room with her until she falls asleep. She's also been needing us if she wakes up overnight vs just going back to sleep like she always has.

This is getting increasingly difficult, of course we have another baby coming in March and this is putting a huge strain on my relationship with my husband as we always spend time together from 8:30 to 10 or so before bed that way we always make time to be together. I feel like I haven't seen him in two weeks because he's either in with her or I am and she doesn't get to sleep until 9:30 on a good night but closer to 10. (Totally normal for her and has never been a problem, she has always just flopped and sang songs and played with her stuffed animals in the dark.)

Her dr says it's a phase and will pass as long as we don't give and let her sleep with us or get in her bed with her. But I just don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. I don't know what else to try. I'm exhausted and I miss my husband and I miss my good sleeper! I just wanted a couple more months of rest before resetting the clock with a newborn again.

Send help please!

UPDATE: 3 weeks and we are through it. I so didn't believe it could just be a phase because I know so many parents who have kids with lasting horrible sleep crutches and habits! But as promised, we stayed firm. Two weeks of sitting with her at bed and nap time and if she got up (yay, also cutting molars so up when meds wore off in the middle of the night) and making sure she knew we ARE there and it's okay. And within 2 weeks there seemed to be no trace of anxiety, fear or panic. So over the last few days i've tested her responses for that desperation and found none. Officially last night she slept through the night with no help. She threw a 30 second temper tantrun when we left and the immediately calmed down. So glad to have my good sleeper back! I can so deal with an angry 2 year old who doesn't WANT to go to bed!