Hi Keska
Great news that EASY is going so well. In answer to your questions, there is no way of knowing how long it will take before you start seeing an improvement in his night sleep. Really you need to get as much formula into him as you can during the day, but only at the right time for his schedule by cluster feeding in the evening and dream feeding no later than 11pm (10.30 probably best so its done by 11pm) then things should improve. If you do this and things still don't start to improve then it may be time to work on sleep training.
You will need to be fairly confident tho' that you can tell the difference between mummy I'm hungry feed me now! and mummy I woke up help me back to sleep, cries. You can do this by listening carfully to his cries when he wakes and noting how much he actually takes from the bottle. If he doesn't take much at all then it will most likely be he just wanted the bottle to go back to sleep, if he takes a good feed then you can be sure it was a hungry cry. You should be find that the cries will be different, all babies are different so I cant say for sure what they will sound like. I do know that a new borns hungry cry starts with a little cough noise in the back of there throat before the wa waa waaa, but I don't know at what age this cry changes.
Remember what I mentioned about the time of the wakings, if your sure he has had a good daily intake then wakings that occur less than 3.5/4 hrs (whichever schedule your on) should be treated as night wakings not hunger wakings.
When you ask what is next do you just keep him on EASY, the answer is YES, he is now an EASY baby and will remain so until he no longer takes daytime naps. But remember that they don't stay still on easy for very long at all, his routine will gradually change as he grows he will stay awake longer then take fewer and fewer naps until he is on just one a day. Our job is to be one step ahead and be ready for the changes as they happen, even sometimes give them a gentle nudge along by stretching awake times for them.
I would most definitely get that possible ear infection checked out by your doctor, they can be very nasty and repeat over and over until school age. Your doctor may know of some homeopathic remedies but its probable he will need antibiotics. One thing for sure you wont be able to sort out his night wakings and his daytime routine could be upset if he does have an ear infection.
With regard to the solids you have introduced. If that is really what you want to do or feel you need to do then thats your choice. My LO was 5 months 1 week when we started solids, I just felt the time was right for us and we haven't looked back. However be aware that up till they are at least 8/9 months old its all just practice eating really, you aren't relying on the solids to either fill them up, keep them full or provide the nutrients they need. In fact, milk in whatever form is THE most important part of your LO diet until they are 1 year old. So it really is important that you get the formula intake up to the max.
I know how you feel about your confidence in your mothering capabilities, but you've just taken a great step forward and it sounds like you have made a really good start. So kudos to you, you are a good mum. Once you get really in the swing of EASY and especially when you start to see or make (whichever) some improvement to his night wakings your confidence will take a huge leap forward.
I agree with Stacy about trying to get him to sleep independently without you rocking, but as with the night wakings I would wait until you are confident that you have got the rest of EASY down pat. Once your happy about your routine it will give you the extra confidence you need to start with the sleep training. Personally I would sleep train day & night simultaneously so you don't confuse him, other wise he will not know why you rock him at night but not during the day or vice versa.
take care and keep me updated.
newmum x