Thanks Amy. I persisted for the rest of the day trying my patting method and briefly picking up when that wasn't working and it was a DISASTER. Nothing I did would stop the crying. The patting etc wouldn't soothe him. By that stage even holding him wouldn't soothe him. In desperation I tried to let him cry it out for a little while- I just couldn't do that for very long, but there was no sign of that working in the slightest either.

So I am back to my usual- dummy and cuddles. I am sick to death of getting up 6 times each night to put the dummy in, and I am worried I am wiping out his ability to self settle by always cuddling him, but it has to be better than today. Pure hell.

Anyone know at what age they learn to find the dummy themselves??