Sleeping dramas

Jack has always been a good sleeper (slept through from 9 weeks) and was awesome with self-settling from day dot. But he's shocking when teething (as he is at the moment), although always managed to go off to sleep.

Now however is a different story and he's screaming/bellowing when I put him down. He doesn't have anything wrong with him and it doesn't matter whether his teeth hurt or not (have tried it with Pamol and no difference). He's fine if I shush him but I can't leave the room or he screams. He won't go to sleep either, he just stares at me (although I refuse to make eye contact). What do I do? It's really affecting my ability to work as he won't go down for his naps, and DC keep ringing me on my ONE day I actually go in to work as he's screaming the place down. I know he has a bit of separation anxiety but it seems to be the cot - like he's scared of it

Advice/hints/sleeping pills please?

You poor thing Emz - going to work after having broken sleep all night is no fun . 

My last post on this thread lists a few ideas about rebuilding trust etc (if he has developed a bit of a cot phobia) - don't know if they'd be of use or not?

When Jimmy kept waking repeatedly and screaming as if he was terrified (at 7 months old I think) I spent about a week sleeping in his room at night. I got up to him ASAP, in the dark, found his dummy for him, tucked him in again and stroked his back until he was calm again. Then would tell him "I'm right here" as I was getting back into bed, and if he started crying again just say "it's OK, here I am", then tried to breathe loudly and slowly as if I was sleeping and he'd usually resettle quite quickly. A week later I moved back to our room, but jumped up and went to him as soon as he squawked. Would resettle him and stay with him for several minutes at first, then less time each time, until I could leave him and he'd stay calm. Two weeks after I moved back to our room he was back to normal, sleeping through most of the time, resettling himself and not randomly crying/yelling himself awake anymore.  Now he just yells out for help when he's wedged himself at the top of his cot and can't figure out how to get comfy again (about twice a week).

As you can see, I'm a bit of a softie  and felt like I had to show Jimmy he could trust me - that I would come when he cried out and was scared. But it was the toughest 3 weeks at work I've had so far - felt like a zombie the entire time .

Thanks for the suggestions! Might try the top thing tonight, maybe I should do a sweaty workout beforehand and it might make him pass out?

Hopefully SOMETHING works He can scream for sometimes 2 hours it drives me mental. Then he works himself up so much that he starts gagging and gets a fever (obviously I get up to him after a few minutes lol, I don't let him scream in the cot for 2 hours!)

Haha MamaPickle, maybe that IS why he was eating the cot? Strange, strange child

All the other ladies have made great suggestions.

We were having problems with Jack sleeping and I was sure that it was his teething moving around but pamol didn't seem to help at all. Someone suggested I try nurofen, we have and it works. And just a few weeks ago he cut a 2yo molar (which made feel better as I was starting to doubt myself).
Is there the possibility that it is his teeth bothering him and nurofen will help?

emz wrote: Anyway, I think it's GOT to be teeth, he woke up 3 times last night. He's already got 8 and 4 more on their way, when will this ever end, he's been teething for 8 months

I know exactly how you feel!! Jack has pretty much been teething since he was 5mths, he has now cut his first 2yo molar so at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!!