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Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

Stopping the 5am milk

13 replies

hillbilly · 07/09/2009 13:23

DS (22 months) wakes at 5am and I give him milk so he will sleep for another hour. It was a quick fix a few months ago that has stuck. It's better than getting up for the day at 5am. However now I really would like to stop this because I know he does not NEED it. I'm sure he could wait until 6 for it. Does anyone have any tips for how to stop it? Should I go cold turkey and put up with the screaming or is there a softer way?

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wishingchair · 07/09/2009 13:31

IME at this age, cold turkey is usually the only way but it rarely lasts long. I say this is in my experience, others might be different. You could go in and give him a beaker of milk/water and leave it with him, that way you are still giving him a drink but not the attention.

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CoteDAzur · 07/09/2009 13:39

What if you prepare his milk before you go to bed and leave it at his bedside (within his reach)? He can drink it on his own at 5 AM or whenever.

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hillbilly · 07/09/2009 13:51

Wishingchair/CoteDAzur - I leave a bottle of milk in the corner of his cot but apart from the very first night way back in May, he will not drink it so I pick him out of his cot and give it to him in a chair. I realise how ridiculous that sounds now I read it back, but it was the best option at the time, as I was so whacked from his early wake up.

Perhaps leaving the milk as usual and letting him get on with it himself would work over the course of a few days?

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CoteDAzur · 07/09/2009 14:09

I would leave him the milk there & let him scream for a bit if he wishes.

Fwiw, DD had started waking up at 5 AM at one point. We totally ignored her and soon she started waking up at 8 AM.

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hillbilly · 07/09/2009 14:17

Oh my God - 8am??? I dream about that! Unlikely in this house as dd (4) is usually up at 7 latest which I would consider a serious lie in!

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sambo2 · 07/09/2009 14:54

My DS has been taking a full bottle from 9 months old. A fortnight ago (aged 11 mo), I had had enough and stopped giving it to him. The first morning, he woke at 5am and I ignored him for 40 mins. I then went in, gave him some water and walked out. He grizzled for another 30 mins and then we started the day. The next day, the same. After 3 days, he started to wake at 6.15am and chats away. He has milk with his breakfast at 7.30am.

So in answer to your question, I think you will have to go cold turkey! Have a few early nights and think of the long term...Good luck

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wishingchair · 07/09/2009 16:18

My DD2 between ages of 18mo to 2 and a half would wake up at 2am maybe once a week. I would go in every 15 mins or so, take her to the loo, etc etc. After almost 2 hours, she would go back to sleep. I wouldn't as I'd be so cross, then would eventually just drop off in time for DD1 to wake up. Was hideous.

Mentioned it to nursery staff who looked at me as if I was an idiot. They said, just go in, give her a bottle/beaker of milk, leave her to it. She'll shout and protest but it won't go on for much longer. Did that and she did shout and protest on and off for same 2 hours. Next time, didn't bother with the milk, just went in, made sure she was ok, then left her to it. Had probably another 2 of those nights then nothing.

Cold turkey is sometimes only way to go!

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hillbilly · 07/09/2009 19:43

Yes I tend to agree with you all. I think I will leave his milk as usual in his cot if he wants it. If after a couple of days he is not having the milk, then I will leave him to it without the milk.

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CoteDAzur · 08/09/2009 08:53

I'd also like to mention that these are the days to instill good sleeping habits in your babies. Once they are toilet trained, all they have to do is yell "pee peee!!!!" to make you come running

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hillbilly · 08/09/2009 13:24

True that CoteDAzur!!

Well I meant to start the new regime this morning but then realised that since he was starting a new nursery today it was probably not a good idea to have him screaming his head off from 5am, however what actually happened was that he woke at 4am calling for milk so I just gave him the bottle and left him to it. He drank it and then went back to sleep until 5.50am which I see as an improvement.

So.....tomorrow morning I shall do the same.

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hodgepodge · 08/09/2009 19:28

hillbilly please let me know how you get on! - DS is 10 months and we do exactly the same thing (though more like 4.15 when I really really am not prepared to start the day) - deep down I know cold turkey is probably best but the idea of a run of hideous starts to the day is making me chicken!

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hillbilly · 09/09/2009 14:23

hodgepodge it seems to be working but the only problem last night was that he woke at midnight and 2am also so I am knackered still! When he woke at 5 I handed him his bottle which he did not drink but he did go back to sleep until 6am.

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hillbilly · 12/09/2009 08:26

Quick update - ds still cannot find his bottle so I have to hand it to him but I no longer sit and give it to him. This morning he had it at 5 and then slept until 6.45.

The only problem last night was that dd woke about 3 times in the night so I was in with her loads. If it's not one it's the other!!