Help! 5.5 month old EBF 3-4x NW

[Stickysidney]

Hi, can anyone help?
We started the EASY routine 2wks ago as my DS was 5mths and has been waking 2-5 times a night since birth, with the exception of 1wk before New Year when he only woke once after the DF. He then caught a cold and we're back to where we started! I'm totally exhaused and need to go back to work in Mar so I have to get things more manageable soon.
Background: He was born 3wks early, is EBF and suffers from silent reflux which we manage with infant gaviscon only when bad due to constipation that it brings on. Up until the NY he fed to sleep and ive broken that habit with this routine. He's now 5.5 mths and weights a healthy 18lb8
His routine is fairly standard:

E 7am then Activity
S 8.30-9.00 (some mornings he's more tired due to NW) (always wakes after 45m so I try and wait by his cot to gently rock it. It generally takes no more than 15m if I catch it in time) Try to get 1.5-2 hours sleep at this nap and the afternoon one.
E 11am then dressed and Activity
S 1pm
E 3pm and Activity
S 5pm for 45m

This is where we start to struggle...he now wakes up expecting a feed based on the rest of the day!
I have been feeding at this time (justifying it as a cluster feed)
6.45 bedtime routine and last feed
7.30-8 bed!
He then wakes 9.30-10.30 for a feed (DF?) and is going about 2.5 - 4hrs between waking at night. I try not to feed before 3.5 to 4 hours since the last feed, but if he wakes early it's hard because I know he'll go down happily after this.
Any suggestions would be hugely appreciated. I'm so sure the NW are to do with the evening schedule and I need help to get them down to just one which would be fantastic.
I can't cope for much longer...I'm going to lose my marbles if it doesn't change soon...

[Bex09]

Hi there and welcome to the boards.

Your daytime routine looks really good, I am so glad that EASY is giving you such great results. It is just brilliant isn't it? As for your NW have you tried an earlier BT? That last A time may be a little long after the short CN causing OT. How does he seem at BT? Is he very fussy?

Are you confident that the reflux is under control and not causing any pain for your DS? If he is still in pain that can cause NW and also the frequent 'need' to feed as it helps the pain in the short term. Ideally you would feed at 7pm before bed, then DF at 11pm, NF (if he wakes) 3am and then 7am when he wakes for the day.

[Stickysidney]

Thank you much for the advice. I'm going to give your suggested timings a go tonight and keep fingers crossed for the next few days. Will keep you posted. Regarding the reflux, I will give the gaviscon more frequently during the evening and night and see if that helps too. Thank you!

[Bex09]

Hope you have a good night. If he wakes before it is time for a feed then you will need to settle in other ways, so usually shush/pat or a variation of that would be best. I would avoid PU/PD with a refluxer as it can make the reflux worse and cause more pain. Try as much as possible to settle in the cot if you can, obviously if your DS is getting really upset then you will want to PU and cuddle him for comfort. Just bear in mind that if he is in pain from the reflux then he will want to feed more frequently. Also be kind to yourself and your LO, reflux is so hard on both of you and often you just do what you have to in order to get through.