Big huge hugs jo
I have just read this and from what I can gather he has been sick and he's teething canines, what an awful combination
Has he had his ears checked? MY dd would get fluid/infections in her ears nearly everytime she teethed as well as a runny stomach and bad temper! I also had to cut her A times right back. I know it is scary but why not try that very early nap when he is looking exhausted and if you can't get a catnap go for a ridiculously early bedtime, I mean around 5pm (Leorah has been to bed at 4.30pm more than once and still goes at 5.30pm every night!!) He sounds unbelievably OT and when that happens you cannot (however much you want to) stay asleep, it isn't his fault and I understand exactly where you are coming from, you are sleep deprived and frustrated too but it really will help if you can accept in your head that it is out of his control, when L was sleeping terribly everything turned around when i accepted this
I can also just about promise you he will go back to being a star sleeper, this is a huge glitch but he will STTN again. I know you have found the patting works and he obviously finds it comforting but maybe it is also a bit of a distraction, do you think a hand on the back could help just as well? If I was in your shoes right now I think I would set up a bed on his floor and go to bed really early myself, this means you can just reach over and reassure him. Definitely give the max drugs you can, those canines are right painful little b*ggers! Also begging Jesus may help! I was so desperate when L was teething and sleeping badly I went on a spiritual forum and begged for distant healing a few times and it seemed to work lol!!
For one night only is there anyway your DH could totally take over so you can have an uninterrupted night sleep? After that you will feel a million times better and can be better prepared to help Caleb get the sleep he needs. During the day I would do whatever you can to get a nap and maybe a second nap, it is worth the petrol if you can get an extra nap or the sore feet if he is likely to nod off in the pram. The short naps are probably due to the chemicals in his body from being so OT, same with the NWs, poor baby, if he could talk he would be saying "mummy I am really trying to sleep, I'm not waking up to drive you crazy, honestly!" I understand how you feel though, truely I do, I have totally BTDT. As you don't have much control over his sleep, you can just make the conditions as favourable as pos, I would prioritise getting some sleep yourself, if you could that tonight then maybe you can continue on fresh with Caleb tomorrow.
Sending a million tooth break through once and for all and help Caleb sleep vibes
