What a sticky situation. In some ways, I love it when my son (who is usally not very affectionate) wants me to linger close-by, and sometimes wants me to stay in his room. I always feel sad/guilty leaving him.

But I know that it's better that I do. I look at it this way: By encouraging emotional self-sufficiency (and how to soothe himself), I am facilitaing an important skill. Not to mention that it's a slippery slope: if I do stay with him, he expects it more & more (or fusses more & more) and after a few days, I feel like I am enabling an un-healthly behavior.

Maybe someone else has a better technique, but here's what I do: I speak a few comforting words, then leave. If he fusses more, I ignore it. (It's hard to listen to.) If he gets out of bed, I'll calmly return him to it, then leave. Initially, he will fuss a lot, but it diminishes each night.

This happened with my daughter, too. It took about 5 days before she was quiet.

Good luck!

Hi triangletwins,

Thank you for your advise I will try it and will see what happens. It is really hard, tonight he lay down and asked me to lay down next to him then he started give me kisses. I it so quite, how can you say no to it? I know I have to try something even though kisses and hogs are really good.

Thanks!

Oh, I know - Hard to resist!