2.3 yr old waking every night for more milk- help!

[weewilliewinkie]

My ds sometimes (rarely) would sleep through the night, but for the last few months he wakes without fail demanding milk ( cow's milk, not formula). I don't know what to do. He gets enough milk throughout the day so he's not lacking, in fact he probably gets too much as he loves the stuff.
He naps from about 1pm for at least 1 1/2 hrs, often 2 (never more than 2, I wake him up by 3pm). Do you think I should cut his nap back to 1 hr? (please say NO! )
He's too old for controlled crying now - any time I've tried that recently he's cried so hard he's sick. He goes to bed between 7-7.30pm, usually without any problems. But at the moment I can guarantee he'll wake at some point in the night, at least once, sometimes more.
Can anyone offer any advice? I'm desperate for a night's unbroken sleep myself.

[pucca]

WWW...Don't think you will like what i am going to say you need to cut back or cut out his nap imo, my dd is 2.4 and is a nightmare if she even has a 10 min nap, i had to cut it out a few months ago because she wouldn't go to sleep and was waking up.

Also do you think he is waking up thirsty? or just a comfort reason for wanting his milk? i would try taking a beaker of juice or water up with him, i do this with my dd so that if she wakes up and is thirsty the drink is there for her to help herself.

HTH and good luck

[pucca]

Forgot to add, since cutting out my dd's nap she sleeps like a dream, and it may mean experimenting a little but you will probably find if you cut his nap down it will help lots because he will be much more tired for bedtime.xx

[wools]

www - I'm coming from the other side of the coin to Pucca. My 2.8 ds wakes up every night demanding milk - will scream the place down if he doesn't get it and will make himself sick from crying as well. He goes to bed at 7pm and gets up at 5am. I cut down the daytime nap (used to be 2 hours - now 1 hour maximum) in the hope he would sleep through and wake up a bit later - hasn't made a bit of difference. Still gets up early and has milk every night. I feel I miss out even more now as I don;t get a break during the daytime anymore. Sorry no real advice here just lots of sympathy.

[wools]

www - I'm coming from the other side of the coin to Pucca. My 2.8 ds wakes up every night demanding milk - will scream the place down if he doesn't get it and will make himself sick from crying as well. He goes to bed at 7pm and gets up at 5am. I cut down the daytime nap (used to be 2 hours - now 1 hour maximum) in the hope he would sleep through and wake up a bit later - hasn't made a bit of difference. Still gets up early and has milk every night. I feel I miss out even more now as I don;t get a break during the daytime anymore. Sorry no real advice here just lots of sympathy.

[anchovies]

We had a similar stage, didn't ditch the nap though - that hour and a half is all that keeps me sane!

What happens when you reason with him? Does he really just want milk or does he just fancy a chat? If ds wakes (2yrs4) I hand him some water then say it's still night time and I'll see him in the morning. He rarely cries though when we leave him, just chats to himself. Does your ds always just cry?

[weewilliewinkie]

I think it's a comfort thing as much as anything, he won't even drink the milk in the cot if I try that, he has to sit on my knee. He gulps the whole lot down then snuggles in to me - I suppose it's very cute really...

When I put him down at 7pm he always says 'milk!' but I just ignore it, and walk out saying 'night night, see you in the morning..' and he has a wee chatter to himself before dropping off. I've tried doing that in the night too but he scrams the place down and it's frankly easier to just give in to him. If I try to give him water he just flips out! He usually then goes back to sleep until 6.30am/7am without waking again. It's obviously become such a habit for him and I just don't know how to break it.

[ClareL]

My DD who is now 6 always had a bottle of milk during the night up until she was 5. She stopped drinking the milk because she wanted to be dry at night. I used to take the milk up with me and stand it in the bottle warmer and then when she woke up give it to her and go straight to bed. A bit like sleep walking. My DS is now taking the same pattern. I'll do anything to get back in bed. It it means waking up for 5 minutes and giving him a bottle or screaming for 2 hours - I think I know what one I prefer. I know it's probably wrong and I am now making a rod for my own back - but sleep is precious!!

[expatinscotland]

cut the nape and put him to bed at 8PM.

did the trick w/dd1 (now 2.10)

[tracyk]

My ds is the same - 26mo. I just take the milk to bed with me and hand it through to him when he wakes at 3 or 4am. I'm sure they'll grow out of it.
I find tho that if he doesn't have a nap - he is overtired for bed at night and wakes up more often - whereas when he has a nap I just keep him up till 7.30 and wind down for sleeping at 8pm.

[weewilliewinkie]

I find the same thing, tracyk - if he doesn't nap he sleeps really badly at night, so I'm very reluctant to stop it. I think I'll try cutting it back to 1 hour. I know this will pass, but it's just such a pain!

[waterfalls]

weewilliewinkie
not read the other replies, but have you tried watering the milk down slightly at first, adding more water over time, he should'nt notice the taste changing, but it will become less appealing to him, also if he has it warm, keep bringing the temp down slightly.