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I'm sorry you're going through this! Do you think a reward chart might work? I know you think she might be too young, but if you explained to her that nighttime is for sleeping, you'll see her in the morning, and that she'll earn a sticker for sleeping all night, she would understand. You could also try a Gro Clock (or something similar) and explain to her that she can only call for you when the light is on. When it's not on, she has to try her best to go back to sleep. I truly think kids our age understand SO much - way more than we give them credit for!

Alternatively, if you think she may be scared of the dark, you could try a nightlight.

ETA: like above, I've totally told Kai through the VM to lie back down and he does every time!

@Freckles: does she have a lovey? My LO has a stuffed bunny, lamb and llama that she goes to bed with. Really helps during the separation anxiety stage and when she sleeps in an unfamiliar place.

For me it would be time to start a new bedtime routine. 2 seems old enough to understand what is going on. For us it's bath time and then bedtime stories, potty and then getting tucked into bed. Maybe read the Llama llama red pajama book and talk with her how she goes to bed and mama is just downstairs. Talk about the bedtime process with her during the day and then do a bedtime routine at night and stay consistent. I agree with @Smurfette that it would probably help of you didn't stay in the room until she passes out bc she probably wakes up wanting to see you next to her bed

@Freckles: We dealt with middle of the night wakeups with our son around that age too! We ended up installing a lock on the door for a few days, and that totally solved the problem. We didn't even have to lock the door after that.. he just learned to stay in there.

More here!
http://www.hellobee.com/2012/07/17/how-to-avoid-sleeping-next-to-your-child-until-they-fall-asleep/

Our daughter is 2 1/2 and doing the same thing now... gotta do something similar, but have to build up the mental strength to start the process first!

It sounds like she needs to learn to fall asleep alone so she doesn't freak out when she wakes up. Have you though about trying something like the sleep lady shuffle from Good Night, Sleep Tight? You might find it less stressful at this age than straight CIO to gradually get your LO over separation anxiety.

Good luck! We've been in toddler sleep regression hell here too. It's no fun.

@Freckles: I hope tonight is an improvement over the recent days! We used to stay in LO's room too and she is now 2 1/2. Just recently we started changing things up by telling her it was "big girl time" and that she would practice lying down by herself and then we would go in after a chunk of time to check on her/sit with her/whatever. We have been doing this for about 6 weeks and stretching the time and she now falls asleep by herself and we almost never have night wakings anymore. Just one more idea to throw in your toolkit in case it helps!

Funny, we're going through this right now and it's been two weeks. If R was still in a crib, I'd CIO but because she's in a twin bed and now knows how to climb out of bed and open her door, we're losing our minds.

For two weeks, I'd have to lie down on her floor until she falls asleep (up to an hour!) and then slowly crawl out of her room. Twice, she's woken up screaming and running out of her room and DH would set up camp and sleep on her floor for the rest of the night. But just last night, I managed to negotiate with her by sitting outside her room at the door.

R used to be a great sleeper so this is throwing me off big time. I'm hoping/praying/assuming this is a phase of separation anxiety and that it will end. Soon. Eventually. Oh dear God, please.

@lamariniere: Can you tell me what a lovey is? o.O

@Freckles: WOohoo!!! Great news!!!!

Hang in there!! LO is just over 2 and we are going through the same thing. I have resorted to lying and telling her I have to put something back/throw something away. It is the only way she lets me leave the room without screaming. She will say ok, give me a kiss, say I love you and go to bed. Otherwise it is screaming to be held or one more hug or one more kiss.