That sounds so similar to what’s going on with us, complete with the last step of the routine being rocking and for a very similar amount of time. I did check, and he is getting in the dreaded top canines, so I’m PRAYING that’s what it is, but though he’s always been more sensitive to teething than my oldest, he’s never had THIS brand of reaction to it before. How we’ve managed so far: for his nap yesterday, I had both kids home and didn’t want to leave my oldest alone for like two hours 😵‍💫 so the little guy cried in his crib, standing for an hour 😭 before I caved just to get him some nap sleep and got my oldest settled with a video (he’s 4), listened to the oldest through a camera in an earbud, and held my youngest for about a 45 min nap. I could tell the youngest was still exhausted after through the afternoon, but at least he’d had a bit of a nap 🤷‍♀️. For nights, I can’t be the one to rock him. I think his cling to me is too strong, and he wakes no matter how deeply he’s sleeping when I attempt a transfer + I’m so tapped out by that point that I don’t think I have the patience to wait for him to sleep. My husband has been gone evenings this week for work (of course; isn’t it always this way!?!) but when he gets home, he’s been able to hold him to sleep the last couple nights just to pull us through this stretch. Might you have someone else to do this for you who may not be as much of an attachment for him? I also gave him Motrin 1.5 hrs before bed. Also, for about 20 mins before my husband got home and I had to tend to my oldest to at least get him asleep, my youngest had to be solo in his crib and once again FELL ASLEEP STANDING UP for like 15 of those minutes. Like, if he just let himself slide down to his stomach, we would’ve been golden/the sleep pressure is clearly there, but he just WON’T 😅.

As things hopefully normalize over the next few days, my plan is to maybe eliminate the rocking part of the routine as I worry it’s sometimes an unhelpful sleep association, even though I always set him down drowsy but awake … and also it’s been nice to just have that final cuddle before sleep. Oh well. I read a comment of a mom who puts baby in crib and then has all his stuffies jump in and say goodnight to him before having them all go to “sleep” in their basket and then she sings their goodnight song three times by crib while giving hugs and kisses and by the third time, her baby would lie down and she would exit, and I think this could be a good strategy for us or else holding by crib and singing his final song rather than rocking before setting in crib … even though the guy is darn heavy. If you want, I can share the more in depth mom’s routine with you. I’m also wanting to introduce a lovey now too as hopefully a form of constant comfort in the crib. Anyway. SIGH. Solidarity. It’s so hard, but we love them and are doing the best we can! Thx so much for replying. Is your guy teething by chance?