it's tough with a baby that doesn't let you get much sleep.

do you or can you co-sleep at all? i know you said you can't put him in your bed, but is there another bed that just you could share with him? it isnt ideal but it got us through months & months of wakeups. i've found being able to lie next to DS to settle him is a huge help, but at 7 months he was still feeding to sleep - but it helped if i could lie down to feed him where he was going to sleep so i didn't have to move him.

hopefully if the fluid in his ears clears up, that might make him a bit more comfortable?

sorry i'm not very helpful, hopefully someone else will have some good advice for you!