11m old DS waking for milk?! Help!

[cjt110]

DS, 11m on Sat, is still waking for milk in the night. He has plenty of food and milk during the day:

Wake up: 6oz milk
Breakfast: Cheerios/porridge and a small slice of toast
Mid morning snack: rice cake and fruit
Lunch: scrambled eggs and toast/beans on toast/sausage casserole etc with a yoghurt/fruit pot
mid afternoon snack: rice cakes and fruit
tea: pasta/veg and meat etc with a yogurt or fruit pot for pud

He has between 18-24oz a milk a day.

He has 1/2 naps a day between 2-3 hours in total. He goes to bed at 7 and usually wakes up around 630am.

He's started waking in the night and taking a full bottle of milk. I just dispair. He is waking 2-3 times a night and I don't know what I am/am not doing right/wrong.

I know he will sleep through in his own time but for my own sanity, has anyone got any helpful suggestions on what I can try?

[FATEdestiny]

He is unlikely to need the milk for hunger given his diet, he is more likely to be waking out of habit not need.

I would go cold turkey and offer water (if thirsty) or nothing. It will be horrendous for a few days so do the new plan at a time when you can cope on very little sleep for a few days. But he will quite quickly accept it and get over it.

[cjt110]

We tried the water thing last night and also leaving him when he was just wimpering to see if he'd settle and it ended up being a full on sobbing fest. SIGH! Surely if he's taking 6oz of milk though it's hunger?!

[nottheOP]

He's hungry because he's in the habit of wanting milk at nighttime. Not all kids drop this of their own accord.

At 11 months, the nighttime milk bar should be closed. Last orders at 7pm and not reopening until the morning. He doesn't need it and it's bad for his teeth, unless you're brushing them after the bottle.

As with PP, I'd go cold turkey. 3 nights should do it, he may want more in the day to compensate.

[SaulGood]

Both of mine still needed milk in the night at that age.

At 11mo though, you often see them waking for developmental reasons too. On the cusp of walking their bodies wake them up and they find they can't get back to sleep. They often get up in their cots and stand there, seem frustrated and cross. Their brains genuinely compel them to get up and practise walking and they find it v frustrating. Sometimes the milk is all that comforts and calms them although some babies do genuinely still need a night feed at that age.

[cjt110]

Argh I dont know what to do. half of me thinks give him milk if he wants it but the other half says he doesnt need it and I want sleep!

[BearFeet]

If he drinks it and goes straight back to sleep I'd keep doing it. He's only little still and probably enjoys a cuddle.

[nottheOP]

I wanted sleep and night weaned at 7.5 months. I did it gradually, dropping an oz every other night.

[cjt110]

He doesnt even have a cuddle Bear I give him the bottle now he can hold it and leave him to it lol.

OP I might try that and gradually get it down from 6oz...