Oh Vic, that sounds EXHAUSTING!! As you know, DS was a horror with night wakings but has always been ok to get to sleep. DD was our nightmare to get to sleep but I rocked her, often for an hour or two, for 16 months (my poor back) and then sat by her cot for HOURS after that and I totally know what you mean about resenting losing your evenings. We ended up getting pretty tough with her and doing rapid return rather than staying in the room (which she hated but adjusted to reasonably quickly) purely because we realised that she was ending up experiencing a lot of negativity with us in the room (ending up getting cross with her or snapping at her to lie down for the 100th time) which really defeated the purpose of us staying with her for the sake of comfort!

That's all fine and well, but doesn't solve that he will disturb DD.

Ok... suggestions at random...

Can you re-introduce the cot but be a bit tougher about him staying in it. Stay in the room and provide comfort and reassurance if he's lying down but walk out (and do rapid return) if he's standing/mucking around)?

If he's likely to kick up a fuss as you introduce new strategies, can you start DD in your room in the evening (I know my DD would be so excited by this that she wouldn't sleep, but just an idea)

Things to distract him from the falling asleep process? What actually finally sold DD on the idea of going to sleep on her own was being allowed a glow stick or time with her torch. If there was too much mucking around, the glow stick had to 'go to bed'. She LOVED them and would skip off to bed in anticipation of her glow stick. Could also try music, those light projector thingys.

Is there any chance he's over tired? Is it possible that because he's often napping in the pram, he's not getting enough of a day time sleep? I know the only time DS IS really hard to get to sleep, is when he's over tired. Could you try having a really quiet week at home, at least around nap times to see if this makes any difference to him?

Could there be anything he's reacting to in dinner? Do you often have salycylates (in fruit) for dessert for example? This can make some kids really 'wired'

Would he enjoy baby massage?


.... That's all I've got for now. Good luck Hun. Remember, this too shall pass. xoxo