Night Feeding

[lilly_kitt]

Hiya

Tyler is 2 in November and has slept through the night on a handfull of occasions, usually when he's coming down with something.

He wakes once in the night, he has 3oz of milk and then straight back down again.  He falls asleep on his own for bedtime, naps he has a small bottle.  In nursery they just put him down without anything and just his bear and falls asleep for them so I know he can do it.  In the night if he wakes more than once, I just go in, roll him back over and say sleepy time now and most of the time thats enough for him.  But once in the night he just wants his milk !!
So, I have to cut out the milk for naps (it also affects him not eating lunch until late) and the night feeds.  I work full time so fully expect it to be exhausting, but I need some help and hand holding through it.  He is a very stubborn little man, and doesn't like not getting what he wants (like his daddy
Can someone please help....

Sarah
x

[Roseii]

Hi there, you're doing the right thing weaning this nf How old exactly  is he? How good is his comprehension? I'm thinking you need to do a fair bit of talking about this in the day if you think he's up to it, explaining "tonigjt there isn't going to be any milk" etc, maybe getting him a special toy to compensate and explain this is because he is such a big boy who doesnt need milk in the night anymore?
Is he teething? Just wondering if he is waking in discomfort sometimes too...?
Do you want to post his routine too-wake up/nap/BT?
Xx

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

Thanks for the response, he is 22 months old.  His comprehension is pretty good but I dont think he can understand just yet, although I will have a go.  he has always had a bottle at night, he has slept through on a handful of occasions and I have no doubt he doesn't need it and its just habit now.  His routine looks like this when he's at home:
7am Wake
8am Breakfast (dry cheerios and smoothie)
10am snack of fruit and biscuit
11.30 (ish)am 3oz bottle to nap
1.30PM Wake
2.30PM Lunch, sandwich and fruit with water
4PM Snack (usually somethind sweet) and water
6.30PM Dinner
7PM Bath
7.30PM 8oz Bottle (drinks only 6oz), songs and bed

Then wakes around 3am when he will either have remainder of bedtime bottle or 3oz bottle.  Then wakes at 6.30am chatters in his cot until 7.

[Erin M]

You might leave him a sippy of water at first just so you know he's not thirsty.  That can stay in his bed and he can find it when he wakes (eventually on his own) - my girls both had water in their beds at that age.  Heck, I still sleep with water near my bed (though not in a sippy cup!).

[Roseii]

LOL Erin, don't you need a sippy

Agree re the water (mine don't have it but plenty of parents do that)

First thought-he's got 4.5 hours A time before nap and 6 hours after-does he seem v tired in the mornings? I'm wondering if that nap needs pushing out a bit...

I think you need to go cold turkey with the NF. I would def prep him in the daytime, explain that tonight you won't be having milk, if yu wake up mummy will give you a cuddle and your toy (or lovie or whatever) then you need to go back to sleep. You could then pursue WIWO (assuming he puts up a fight) or a more gentle approach with GW...

How does that sound? Start as you mean to go on too, don't hold out on the milk for 2 hours then give in iykwim xx