Hi, another one here who had serious sleep deprivation and sleep settling issues at your DS's stage.

I think you have some really good advice here, especially regarding diet (caffeine) and routines. I would definitely try to get up when he tries to play in the middle of a feed and try again later.

I had trouble from about 6 months until 10 months, that was when I completely fell apart after tying so many different techniques for months. I eventually tried a sleep school and it was a savior! We have never looked back. Not all sleep schools are CC only, it is worth having a chat to the staff there to work out how they run the school and how much consideration they place in your wishes.

The most important thing they gave me was the tools to make sleep work throughout the day and night. My DD was having 20-40 min naps daily also and it was pointed out that this was not enough. It means waking at the end of a sleep cycle rather than re-settling and it can be really important to be able to re-settle to get a decent amount of sleep. I was assisted to set up a (flexible) sleep feed play routine again (I had let it go from the early days) and it helped immensely. It might help your DS concentrate on his feeding if it comes after a sleep so that he is more groggy rather than after a play?? (sorry if this is something you already do!)

One other bit of advice from sleep school was to completely drop night feeds (other than a dreamfeed if necessary) by that age. I had been feeding throughout the night and trying to drop feed slowly and I was so relieved to hear that it was ok to just let night feeds go. Apparently my feeding at night was contributing to her mucked up schedule at that age. We kept the dream feed for a few weeks but straight away my DD was sleeping better at night and during the day and BFing much better throughout the day. I would definitely try giving him water in the place of a BF at night.... however.... as with all advice, if it doesn't feel right, go back to what you are comfortable with. Just because it works for one baby doesn't mean.....

especially with your DS's eczema flare ups, you don't want to stress him. Just make sure you treat yourself with as much respect as you need to look after you too!

with regards to the difficulties you have getting him to wind down, I am not much help - although you may wish to look at the effects of some food additives? Sounds like he is an energetic little boy! Lucky you!!