2 year old separation anxiety - what can I do?

I posted last week about DD bursting into hysterics at bedtime out of nowhere (she has been the best sleeper ever up until now). We narrowed it down to her being scared and/or separation anxiety and just today when DH left her with the sitter she burst into tears and didn't want him to leave, so we're definitely thinking separation anxiety.

She is 25 months and we've never, ever had this problem. She normally goes down to sleep just fine and never cares when we leave her with the sitter. This is obviously heartbreaking, is there anything I can do? At night? When we leave in the morning? She gets over it at night eventually (we've added some extra snuggling to the bedtime routine) and has gotten down to crying just a minute or two before going down. I assume she got over this morning pretty quickly after he left but still, it's so sad!!

Re: 2 year old separation anxiety - what can I do?

Its so hard to leave them when they get like that.

DS is also 2 and goes through the same thing. I have him walk me to the door, give him a hug and kiss and I make sure to tell him everytime- Mommy will be back. I figure at some point it will set in that I say I am coming back and I actually do.

For the nighttime, do you have a light for her? MIL got ds one of those pillow pets that has the lights on it- it projects stars on the ceiling, usually he is so enamored with that, that he doesnt even notice me slip out