How to break sleep association with …me?

[MotherOfDragon20]

I’m in such a pickle with my 12 month old and would really appreciate any advice that might help us all get a bit more sleep.

Ds terrible sleeper since birth, coslept from night 1 as only way to get any sleep, now does a few hours in cot at start of the night but Cosleeps on floor bed with me from about 10/11pm, wakes an outrageous about of times per night, was breastfed until about a month ago now just cows milk in a cup during the day and eating solids well, doesn’t look for feed overnight (have tried, makes no difference). Has a dummy.

So I think the main issue is he seems to need to be touching/stroking my hands, arms, chest (needs to be skin) To fall asleep and this can go on all night, can sometimes be doing it for up to half an hour before goes into a deep sleep and stops for a sleep cycle then wakes up reaches out for my skin and it starts again, similar to how baby’s would use comforters. Problem is I’m getting incredibly touched out and developing an aversion to him touching me at night which makes me feel very guilty but I’m getting no sleep and I just can’t bare to be pawed all night every night anymore.

I really don’t know how to break this cycle as even in a cot he wakes up every 15 minutes and wants to hold my hand through the bars. I don’t know how to go cold turkey on the touching while also comforting him and leaving him to cry it out isn’t an option.

im surviving on a few hours in the morning when DH takes him before he goes to work and contact naps during the day but im returning to work soon and im really going to struggle.

PS I have tried various soft toys, comforters, dolls etc he hates them all. DH and I joke we’re going to need to get him silicone boobs to touch but seriously I’m at a loss.