Sleep help!

My son is 20 months and he just will not go to sleep unless me or his dad are sat in his room. He’s been like this for maybe a month or 2 but it’s gradually getting worse, to the point he’s waking through the night and not going back to sleep unless we’re sat in his room also.

I’ve tried the Ferber method but this just makes him more distressed. I’ve tried the chair method where I move further away from him each night but that’s not worked because now I’m sat near the door he’s just refusing to go to sleep altogether.

Do I just bite the bullet and let him Cry it Out? I just struggle to leave him to cry but I feel like it’s my only option