night waking at 16 months

[teatank]

does anyone have a problem with there baby still waking for a bottle at 16months of age at around 4oclock. he eats and drinks plenty during the day. would it be cruel to just refuse to give in and try and train him till 7am. any advice would be appreciated

[mumtoem]

I think this depends on whether you have a problem with it. If you are Ok about waking to give this bottle, then I wouldn't worry. If you have had enough of disturbed nights, then it may be worth trying to wean him off it.

You could try diluting the milk, say 80% milk, 20% water the first night and then gradually increasing the amount of water in the bottle each night. Hopefully he will eventually decide the bottle isn't worth waking for.

The other option is to try to make him wait a little longer each night for the bottle.

[BiscuitStuffer]

Crikey - you are very good - we pulled all night feeds for both of ours at 9 months. Just couldn't do it any more. It was a habit thing i think. Anyway - we went cold turkey and it took a couple of nights and then they slept through.

Not everyone's cup of tea to do it that way I realise.

[teatank]

thanks for your advice. i think am gonna go cold turkey cos i think hes drinking at night out of habit rather than hunger. cant wait to have a full nights sleep

[fandango75]

blimey we had ds through the night at 6 months - the last feed got less and less until it was an ounce then we ust droppe dit - after a couple of nights of moaning that was the end of it. It is clearly a habit and is not needed

[3LegsandNoTail]

We did the cold turkey approach with dd at about 16 months and after a few nights of screaming it did work - until she got ill or was teething. Now at 21mo she will sleep right through til breakfast about 5 nights out of 7 but if she's not feeling well the only thing which will get her back to sleep is a drink of milk. So she's out of the habit of waking for it but some nights still needs it iyswim. We've just come to terms with the fact that she's not a great sleeper, unlike ds(5) who slept through from 5 months, so she has been a bit of a shock to the system!