What should I do - DS wakes up at night

[GuernseyFrench]

DS is 11 & 1/2 weeks and wakes up during the night for 30mn (if I'm lucky) once or several times between midnight and 2am. His last feed is at 8pm and first one at 4am.
I have tried to feed him but he doesn't want the bottle, to leave the light on (as I thought it might be nightmares), to ignore him but the crying goes crescendo...

He'll only settle down with the dummy but push it away after 5mn.

What could I do to help him sleep and to keep me sane?

He is 3 months old. It goes with the territory I';m afraid. No 3 month old can have nightmares. He wants to be held and cuddled in all likelihood and at this age I would have no problem doing that. Would you consider co sleeping?

I won't be able to co sleep as DH and I move a lot during our sleep and we don't have the space in our room for his cot.
I'll try the cuddles and see if it works!

So he sleeps either 8-12 on a bad night or 8-2 on a good one?

That's pretty good going at his age. I know you don't want to hear that, but it is. You just tough it out and it gets better. Just cuddle/feed/rock and help him go back to sleep. We coslept at that age and it helped a lot, but if you can't you can't.

It gets better, I promise!

Sleep deprivation is really hard, especially at the beginning and you do want to get it right without getting into any bad habits. Take a look at this helpful article: How To Help Children Sleep Through The Night- and good luck!

could u put a mattress on the floor next to the cot and hold him there till he conks out? it DOES get easier, they get easier and you adapt, i had 2h last night of munchkin aged 10m unable to sleep whatever i did, you eventually wearily accept it, my tolerance for night crappiness has simply improved

I know it will improve and get better (hopefully), it's just that I'm due back to work in a few weeks.

Nevermind, I'll invest into a good concealer!

Guernsey, i think the main thing to remember is that he is still very young and that his sleeping patterns may well change many times over the next few months. at 12 weeks, my DD1 was up lots, my DD2 slept for 6 or 7 hours at a time. but then at 4mo, DD2 started with more wakings, and only now, at 8 1/2 months is going nearly through, DD1 at 3 doesnt sleep through.
sleep deprivation is a killer, but you will find a way to get through it (i have just gone back to work and am hanging on in there with between 2 and 8 getting ups a night). good luck.

remember, this too shall pass....oh, and i recommend the 'soap and glory' concealer...

Sleep deprivation is sooo hard! Your baby is still really young. Get this baby sleep guide - it's free - and it will help you get LO into good sleeping habits before you go back to work - not all night yet though, but soon!

Good luck!

Thanks for all advices and links.

I went down the road of giving him a cuddle every times he wakes up and despites still waking up, he settles down far more quicker.