What to tackle first...need to start getting some sleep!!!

[Strike1]

I'm not sure where to start. ds2 bad sleeper from day 1. He now wakes hourly and won't nap for more than 40 minutes. I always felt he had reflux but it's never been confirmed. I bf him and he refuses the bottle. As life is hectic with his 2.8 year old brother and my freelance work pattern, I feel I can't give him the time he needs bf. He's a little and often kinda guy and now messes about while feeding. He eats like crazy at night and we've been co sleeping to get some sleep. We are building up to trying CC at night, but I'm worried that stopping his night feeds won't help me get him on a bottle during the day, and what is the best way to do that. Should we do it all a once? Stop bf, night feeds and get him to self soothe, if not what should we do first? It all happened naturally with his brother and I had the time to do it all gradually. This time I feel the need to get this sorted and get family life back on track, but I'm floudering as to how!

Would you hire a sleep nanny?

If I were you I would stop night feeds first - that was my plan last week after months of co-sleeping my daughter who I had started feeding numerous times at night just to try and get her to go back to sleep. But it went hand in hand with controlled crying to get her to settle herself in her cot which (touch wood!) seems to be working quite well. She has slept through for the past 2 nights, clearly didn't need those feeds. I am still breastfeeding her morning and night. She is eating meals and taking her milk much better now - I think possibly stocking up instead of having appetite dulled by milk...

Good luck with it Strike1!

Thanks annatee, that's the plan I think, but I'm weak at night, but I will try and be strong tonight!!

Hobbgoblin, sorry I never got back to you after posting ages ago on your thread about skill sharing. I think I over estimated dh's web skills (or so he said when I told him) I'd love to hire a sleep nanny, but can't really afford it, I feel like I know too many different ways of dealing with ds2's sleep and can't quite get stuck into one. I love the idea of someone really getting to know our life and then telling me what the best solution based on that is, so if you have any suggestions I'd be greatful. I've been off mumsnet for a few weeks, but should be glued to it now, looking for support!