Help with removing dummy and general sleep training (5.5m)

[carebear83]

Hi all,

Just looking for a bit of advice - I did a lot of research into sleep and sleep training with my ds1 (who we sleep trained around 11 months) but ds2 has a completely new set of problems...

For the first few months, he was a great sleeper. Good daytime naps, settled well around 7pm, dream feed at 11pm and then usually one feed between 4.30-6.30 before resettling until around 8.
Recent weeks have seen more and more wake ups in the early hours and he will only go back down with a feed or the dummy (he used to use the dummy to fall asleep but didn't need it again until light sleep in the early hours). It's becoming untenable as my ds1 is also a very early riser.

So I have decided to take action tonight! I'm going to remove the dummy at bedtime and try some gentle sleep training (ds2 just under 6m so nothing too harsh), staying in the room, encouraging to suck hands etc.

I was just wondering if anyone has any advice about removing dummy or any other element. I'm not sure he needs the feeds in the early hours after 210ml at 11pm but I want to err on the side of caution - without the dummy, how will I know if he's hungry?

Any thoughts/advice/experiences v welcome!

Thank you, and sorry for all the typos, phone won't let me correct stuff...