Help! my baby cries before sleeping in the stroller

Hi everyone,

I’m at my wit’s end and feeling pretty desperate. I have 10-month-old twins, and as you can imagine, they come with plenty of challenges. One of my twins has been crying during stroller naps since they were 6 months old. It’s not tearful crying but more of a frustrated or desperate wailing. Interestingly, if we go for a walk, the crying stops immediately, and they’re perfectly content during the outing, so I don’t suspect anything physical. The baby has already been checked by a physiotherapist and chiropractor.

Once asleep, they sleep really well—no interruptions. But getting to that point can take anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes, with varying levels of crying or whining.

The health clinic suggested it might be a case of fighting sleep (FOMO) and recommended playing music and following a consistent routine before stroller naps. Unfortunately, that hasn’t helped. I’ve tried laying the baby down before they’re tired, at the first or second sign of sleepiness, and when they’re completely exhausted—same result, lots of crying. Letting them nap in bed instead of the stroller doesn’t work either, as they sleep worse there and end up cranky all day.

On the bright side, both twins are amazing at night! They’ve been lightly sleep-trained since 4 months old. I put them down in their cribs at 7 p.m., say goodnight, and stroke them a little before leaving the room. They fall asleep on their own and sleep through until 6:30 or 7 a.m.—no crying, just peaceful vibes.

The other twin has recently started crying a bit when put in the stroller but stops immediately once the harness is buckled. That feels more like typical age-related defiance where anything they don’t want is “wrong.”

I’m desperate for advice on how to handle this. It’s incredibly exhausting, and it breaks my heart to see my baby like this. They love sleep, and once they’re asleep, it’s deep and restful—but the process of falling asleep in the stroller is a huge struggle.

Has anyone been through something similar? Any tips that worked for you? Or maybe there’s a specific age when this phase ends? I’m considering a visit to a manual therapist as a last resort, in case there’s something we’ve overlooked.