My 8 year old daughter refuses to go to sleep on her own. If I try to leave the room when she’s awake, she is immediately terrified, starts sobbing, and runs out of her bedroom after me. She wasn’t always like this. I’m not sure what changed. When I ask her why, she never has an answer. She’s never had any sort of trauma.
She sleeps with the lights on and has her comfort stuffed animals.
I’ve been staying in her room until she falls asleep, but I really want to break this habit.
There are times where I’m just so exhausted that after a little while, I leave her room because I just need to go to sleep. And then I just end up laying in my own bed listening to her cry. It’s heartbreaking.
I’m sure it’s just a phase, but does anyone have any suggestions on how we can stop this habit?