I wouldn't start dropping night feeds unless it is by your DS's choice. DD#2 feeds when she wants to so if I were to drop her night feeds all that would happen is she would end up cranky and even more disturbed through lack of food.

It does get better though, and I honestly think the best way is to let your child take the lead. You have said you have had periods where he sleeps through so take heart that he CAN do it. Babies go through such huge development in the first 12 months. Don't worry - he'll get the hang of sleeping soon. And don't think your baby is doing anything "wrong" because everybody else's child is supposedly sleeping through. He is still so young.

I don't use dummies so I'm not talking from personal experience, but friends that do have said they find that while they're good to get their babies to sleep, if their bub drops the dummy during the night then bubs needs to be given the dummy back and resettled. I don't know if this could be part of your DS's disturbed sleep pattern? If it is, maybe try to wean him off the dummy - might take longer to get him to sleep initially but if it stops him waking unsettled then it could be worth it.