Help with sleep

[slby]

Hi - I wanted some advice on sleep please. My 5 month old DS is waking to feed 3-4 times a night and it's really exhausting. I'm lucky in that he does fall back asleep but he won't sleep in his crib next to me. He will only sleep with me. I know this is my own fault as I let him at the start but I was so exhausted after a tough pregnancy - I just wanted to sleep.
I have a feeling that the feeds are a habit as they've become more frequent. He's a big boy and I'm sure is not hungry. But I tend to give in so that he doesn't wake DD - who can be difficult to get back to sleep.
Anyone who has been there and has good advice? I'd probably carry on with this arrangement as I get enough sleep to function but I have to leave him overnight soon with family so feeling the need to break this habit.
Perhaps this is normal and I was lucky that DD would sleep alone and go 6-8 hours at night.
Thank you

The first thing to do is to stop feeding him at night.... As long as you are sure its habit not hunger, use any other method to get him back to sleep. Once he's used to not being fed, gradually withdraw the other sleep associations he is used to, rocking patting, whatever it is. Took us about a month and DD still wakes up sometimes for a cuddle (nearly 7mo) but generally sleeps 7pm-6.30am with a 10pm dreamfeed.

I suppose if I withdraw the feeds it'll be easier to for him to stay asleep and maybe in his own crib.
I don't mind doing one but he sometimes goes for longer in the day without feeds then he does at night so I'm sure he doesn't need to feed every 90/120 minutes.
Thank you

Hi Op, don't be too hard on yourself, nothing is ' your fault', we all do what we can to get by. He's not going to be sharing your bed when he's 16 ??

In my opinion, at that age they can be hungry overnight. My 7mo still feeds overnight and i am happy for her to but then I don't have the energy to wean her off it as we have two other small dcs who will wake up if there's any crying and we all have to be up and out of the house by 7.30 each morning.

With my middle dc I did wean her off her overnight bottle at about 12 months by upping the amount of water and reducing the amount of milk. It worked but I'd leave it a while before you do anything like that.

I do agree that 3-4 times is excessive though but I think it could be a comfort thing and he's prob going through the 4 month sleep regression still?

I think 1-2 feeds would be okay but he did go longer at 3 months, got a cold and I think needed comfort feeds. Then I never did anything to go back to how it was.
Looking at some other posts I have some tips to reduce the feeds so will try.
The problem is that the person looking after him in a few months doesn't agree he should be in my bed or feeding at night. But if he is the same I will just have to come home from the wedding instead of staying overnight. Doesn't bother me but will bother DH.
Thank you xx