Have you considered a mattress on the floor? That's where DS has slept since around 8 months cause he hated his cot and no room for us all together in bed.
We've never let DS cry it out either, but he's gradually gotten better (on the whole). If he's sick, teething or going through any sort of developmental leap then he needs a whole lot more help getting to sleep and staying asleep. That's just the way he is i think.
Too bad about the IL invasion. How long they there for?

