Deeply need to sleep train but baby is always teething/ill

[Cartrucktractor]

Help. Nearly ten month old has always been a terrible sleeper but even worse at the moment. Waking every 90 mins or so in hysterics.

We tried to sleep train in September and it went well for the first four days and were seeing results. Then he got ill with an ear infection, and he seems to have literally been either ill or teething since then.

The whole family is on our knees. We really want to sleep train, I'm back at work and like a zombie, but don't want to try if it's not going to success because of illness or teething (have older child so can't have nights and nights of wailing).

Do we just wait it out? He isn't right in himself at the mo, but he seems so sensitive to teething pain (for weeks rather than a few days like my eldest was).

Please help! How do we know when to resume sleep training?

In my experience it just won't work when they are ill or teething.
I'm sorry I'm sure that's not what you want to hear as you're so desperate for a break but now isn't the right time. He just needs cuddles and patience.

Chances are he's going to get one thing after another in winter bug season (my two have been grotty for weeks now, seeming to get something as soon as one thing ends!) but when you think he's over this one give it another go as every little bit of progress will help - I don't believe that pausing for illness or teeth means a total reset, so you'll still make progress!

Do you have someone who can help you so you can get one decent night - your mum or a sister who could do just one night? Or a partner who could do one terrible night alone so you can sleep?

Ah god, that's what I feared. It's just been so relentless, like it feels like he's been chain drinking Calpol for weeks and weeks. It can't last forever right???