How do you get a two year old ready for her own room?

[Beth1231]

We plan to move out of our crackerbox one bedroom apartment by the end of summer and Anina will have her own room. She is still in a crib atm.

Our routine of rocking her to sleep and putting her in her crib has worked just beautifully for months. But these last few weeks, she starts crying when either of us tries to leave the room. For awhile, sitting her in the glider and whispering soothing things to her did the trick. Then I got very tired one night and just gave up on an evening with Hubby adn collapsed into bed. She went from whimpering for me to deep breathing in minutes.

Anina clearly feels more secure and ready to sleep when one of us is in the room. So on to my Subject line....how do we get her ready for her own room? How do we help her with this new fear of being alone in our bedroom? It's almost like she is tensely trying to sleep and aware that we are TRYING to sneak out. Frustrating, since we really do need our couple time after she is in bed. This last month, we have both been very disappointed by the hour to two hour long sessions of "I think she's asleep, I'll try to get out of the room" and crying as soon as the door opens. Anina is 23 months.

I could really use some advice.