Help - 5.5 month old waking every half hour all night

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My 5.5 mth old DS has never been a great sleeper. At his best he was sleeping for 3 hours stints, at 3 months. Over the last couple of months that has reduced to 2 or 1.5 hour stints.

For the last couple of nights, he has been waking every half hour wingeing. Although we are co-sleeping (excl. bf), I am in agony with all the waking, bending over to feed, switching sides when my hip gets sore etc. I hardly slept at all last night.

Not sure if he's teething, but is this common when teething? Annoyingly, he slept twice yesterday during the day for 2 hours each time - why can't he do that at night?!

DH thinks we should try him in his cot tonight to see if that works better. I do agree, but it's so difficult when I'm so sleep deprived as I don't think I have the energy to be up and down out of bed all night

It is quite common when teething and it might be a growth spurt as well, and putting him in his cot might be worse, as you say, you will be up and down all night.
Try some anbesol teething liquid, it has lidocaine in it, and really helped mine instantly. If that doesn't work it might be a growth spurt, and they only last a few days so should nearly be over.
Only don't put it on them and then BF straight away, makes your boobs go numb!

Is he an only child? If he is you must try to sleep during the day when he does, bollox to housework!

Thanks Chirpy - I'll try that stuff
I know what you mean about housework, but my house just seems to degenerate into a tip. Might go for a nap when DH gets home this eve

I know about the house degenerating (believe me!) I just find its much easier to cope if you have had at least a 30 minute catnap, otherwise I tend to wander aimlessly picking things up and moving them around, but nothing actually gets tidier!

If you really can't though, do go to bed this evening, it will make such a difference to your ability to cope!

Ah this brings me back. I was working full-time, too. In our case it was development that sparked the sleep abomination and it took MONTHS to get to a bearable level (of every other hour). Best of luck.

I agree about Development messing up their sleep. My DD is almost 5mths and the moment she turned 3mths turned into a night owl!
She would wake every 3 hours and often stay awake for about 2 hours! You would just get her to sleep for her to wake an hour later for another feed! - Very annoying.

Ive been walking round like a zombie for months!
Its slowly improving but 3 hour slots is the "norm" in our house.