Reducing night-time feeds

[Laurel12]

Hello! My boy (11 months) and I have had the same routine for the last five months. Four feeds during the day (between 7am and 7pm) and one at night (around 5am). In the last two weeks, he's been waking more frequently and not settling unless he feeds. I'm sure it's a phase but I'm worried we'll get stuck in a cycle of needing to feed to get back to sleep. He's waking between two and four times each night at the moment. I'm not sure what help or advice I'm expecting but... Help?

Offer him water if he wakes up during the night and rub his back. If he's in a cot don't pick him up, just sit on a chair beside him and gently rub his back til he settles. It might take quite a while the first few times, but it WILL work if you're gentle and patient, probably within 4 or 5 nights. If you're co-sleeping, wear something with a high neck and lie on your front/hold a pillow over your chest while rubbing his back....

Thanks @mesmeri, I'll give it a go. When you say it'll take time, where do you stand on screaming/getting super upset? I tried comforting him (without picking him up) but gave in after an hour of howling. Admittedly this was only one attempt...

Yeah, he'll probably be angry/upset because it's not what he's used to having happen. It might take hours the first night, but you stay with him and offer him his sippy cup/rub his back. Each night he'll get the idea quicker. By the end of the week he'll probably settle in a few minutes, then start sleeping through the night.

I tried to stop giving my daughter night time feeds at 5.5 months. I gave her water if she woke in the night. She was having 150ml every 3 hours during the day and maybe 180ml before bed. When she was poorly with the cold amid she woke I fed her but other than that I just gave water. She now sleeps through the night 7pm-6:30am. Occasionally waken up I give her tummy a rub and she doses back off. My daughter also kept waken in the night when she shared a room with my and my boyfriend. Since she's been in her own room she's a really good sleeper. I think we was disturbeing her maybe snoring or Rossi and turning. She's now 6.5 months and had 210ml every 4 hours sometimes less. Hope this helps.