DS screams and stands up when I leave the room

[kittypower]

DS is 9 months and used to be really good at going to sleep but for the last couple of weeks it is just such a battle. He has learnt to stand up and is also getting four teeth at the same time which is unsettling him. I put him in his cot and as soon as i leave the room he has sprung up and is standing at the end of his cot and screaming, i go in lie him back down and then leave and it starts again - this can go on for hours, the only way I can get him to sleep is if i stand by his cot and pat him gently - what can I do to make bedtime better?

stand by his cot and pat him gently the first time?

My ds (also 9 months) used to only be so-so at going to sleep anyway unless he was zonked on milk. As he gets older he is less often milk-zonked so am finding new ways. The crouching by the cot with hand on chest and stroking silently works if he's tired enough but otherwise he just chats/rolls over/strolls around. So...I went into the loft and got his cloth rocking chair (the usual lie down kind) which he hasn't used since he could climb out of it, several months ago. But. It's turned out to be good for getting him into sleepy mode where I can implement the usual sleep routine or just get him to sleep. You may not want to introduce a whole other element to your routine, and may prefer that he will just stay in his cot, but I prefer this to a two hour nightly battle!

Obviously I sit silently rocking it, sometimes with hand on stomach if he's trying to roll over.