Why iss dd 2.8 waking up through the night for milk ?

[LilyLoo]

dd has been weaned off the dummy for about 3 weeks now. She has always been good at sleeping and has gone down pretty well and got herself to sleep. She use to take a beaker of milk and her dummy. Drink her milk and then sleep through from 7.00 until 7.30.
Although we have successfully got her off the dummy she now seems to be using the milk as a comforter.
Do i need to take this off her too ?
She eats very little throughout the day so think she could be genuinely hungry. However i don't want to start this as a habit with a new baby due in January.
Could this have anything to do with her dropping her daytime nap ?

[PregnantGrrrl]

I stopped DS having milk at night at 10mths. I gave watered down milk at first, then bit the bullet and only offered water. It was hard the first few nights, but he soon adapted and either didn't wake at all, and woke briefly for a drop of water.

I found giving more milk in the morning helped too.

[3sEnough]

I wouldn't change giving her milk before bed, but just not offer it through the night.(I offered nothing except me saying - 'go to sleep' as mine would wake for water too if allowed) As long as your dd isnt filling up on milk in the day, she'll start to eat more at some point!

[LilyLoo]

We have given no milk through the night foe the last couple of nights but she still woke up twice last night just crying for no reason !
Have tried giving sticker last night that she could stick on her chart if she didn't wake up but didn't work so will try again tonight and see if it makes any difference.
Do you think an earlier bed time would help ?

[NannyL]

she will be waking for milk because you give her milk...

If you dont giver her milk she wont wake for it... well she might but when she doesnt get it she will soon stop

2 year olds need to be consuming their calories in the DAY time. so dont give her anything during the night... she will be hungrier during the day so eat more.... etc

dont think a 2 year old needs to go to bed before 7pm!

[annh]

Having the milk residue on her teeth all through the night isn't good either.

[kerrykatona]

annh has a really good point there, my own dd1 had to have some of her baby teeth taken out because we gave her milk to put her to sleep at night.

she has a really healthy diet and teeth brushed twice a day but the milk that lay on her teeth over night was enough to rot them.

it was the worst day of my life when she had to have them taken out

[bossybritches]

Would it be such a disaster if she did have a dummy just at night? Can't stand them myself but they have their uses & if she is a "sucky" child as mine were it's better than a thumb which stays with them & is more damaging to the teeth!

If she wasn't tired (you too!) she might eat more during the day. If she's not eating much- bearing in mind their tummies are so small still- it could be she's filling up on milk but not eating enough stodge during the day to sustain her. Try cutting out the milk during the day unless after meals or give it on cereals & as milk puddings.They can get their calcium & other nutrients from youghurts/cheese etc it's not so vital after 2yrs as they have other food sources.