Sleep Deprived Parents Need Help! (Please)

[DaddyBrad]

Hello. Our second DS is 5-months old and just won't sleep for any stretch through the night. His last feed is usually around 8pm, he then wakes crying around 2am-ish for a feed and again at around 5am for another feed after which he doesn't usually settle. DS No1 then wakes between 6 and 6:30 hence little sleep for us poor parents......
DS No2 is mainly BF, although DW is now trying to substitute every second feed with formula and also some baby rice from time to time.
Is there anything that we can do? I've read alot about growth spurts but this has been the case since he was born. DS No1 was going through the night by 4 months. We're desperate! Thanks in advance for any advice, all gratefully received....

My DD didn't sleep through for any length until 13 months and DS (who is 2 next month) has only just started going through.

It does get better.

Waking once or twice in the night for a feed is totally normal until at least 9 months, often much later. 8pm - 2am sounds pretty reasonable to me at this age. You could try moving bedtime earlier to see if he'll wake up later in the morning (sounds mad but it often works).

It is tough, though - especially if you can't get back to sleep after the 5ish wake up.

I hate to say it, but I think you were lucky with ds1! Ds2 waking times sound quite normal to me for a 5 month old. Can you take it in turns to take both ds in the morning to at least get an extra hour sleep in? I think at this stage it is all about survival!

Much sympathy though, I have 10 month dd and 3yo ds and have had one night unbroken sleep since dd was born. They never sleep at the same time. Very hard looking after the older one when you're so exhausted...