9mo suddenly howling at sleep time and has to be rocked to sleep

[Lovage]

My LO (9 1/2 months) has never been good at staying asleep at night but has always been fine at going to sleep. Would wake every 3 - 4 hrs, feed for 5-10 mins and then go straight back to sleep. Not ideal, but liveable-with. Naps were always a bit trickier but with the help of familiar music, darkened room, sucking on a finger or a dummy, bfing or just a bit of head stroking we could usually get him off with just a bit of grizzling.

But for the past fortnight he cries really hard whenever he realises you're trying to put him down to sleep. The only thing that seems to soothe him is being rocked in your arms, and not just for a few minutes but until he's deeply asleep, which is at least 20 minutes and sometimes up to 2 hrs. I can't keep this up -my arms are killing me and it's really upsetting to see him so upset.

He is clearly tired - yawning widely and rubbing his eyes but howling too. He had a bad batch of teething about a week ago and no longer wants anything in his mouth, so the finger-sucking which used to be his main thing has gone. He's also just learned to stand up and climb stairs. But otherwise I can't think what's changed. I'm going back to work part-time soon and he's spent a few hours at nursery for settling in visits. But he's seemed to be absolutely fine - really pleased to see me when I reappear and then wants to go off and play with all their interesting toys again.

Bfing generally doesn't work as he's not usually keen on feeding to sleep. Lying down next to him is a great game but really exciting and funny. Going out in the buggy is enjoyable but doesn't make him sleep. I don't have a car most days. He loves being in the sling but it doesn't make him sleep.

Any suggestions or possible explanations? Or any stories of similar experience, preferably ending 'and then after a month he slept through 7 - 7 for ever more'!

[crayon]

Isn't it about now that they realise that they are a separate entity from you and not actually part of you? I think that happens at 8-9 months and is the cause of separation anxiety at this age.

Not sure what you do about it though! Our nearly 9 month old is going through a bad patch with his sleeping too, but I think it is his teeth.