maggie, have you thought about using a sling so he can sleep while you are doing things. i find that oscar, when that age, slept for hours in the sling but if i was to put him down he would wake. all 3 of my boys slept in a sling or with me and i don't even own a cot, do what suits you but my eldest boys certainly sleep through the night now and i can't even remember all the sleep traumas i had with them. remember in a blink of an eye they are grown up.
beckles