Controlled crying... how does it work?

[MatildasMumma2410]

Hi everyone, so my LO is 18 months old and we've been in a bad sleep routine since she was 12 months. It's our own fault :,( We've gotten into the habit of giving our LO a bottle of whole milk (9oz) to sleep with after her bath and story. She'll then wake between 11pm-2am for another full bottle of milk, then another bottle at around 4-5am! It'll then have a knock on effect the following day where she'd have 0 appetite and not eat much all day then be starving at bedtime! We've adjusted it slightly for the past 2 weeks and tried to feed her a bottle of milk whilst reading a story and just putting her straight down (works fine!) then she'll wake her 2 normal times but I'll just give her 4oz each time instead of her normal 9!! We were guilty of just giving her what she wanted to get her back to sleep as soon as possible! But now she's in a routine and wakes up twice a night every night for her bottle! 😭 On a couple of occasions she actually stayed awake from 2am till 5am but we blame that on teething! 😖 We're at our wits end and really wish for a night when she sleeps through! So I've read up on controlled crying...I've tried the just lying there for a while till she falls asleep but giving in after 15 mins or so if she doesn't settle. Mainly because I'm so desperate for sleep I'll just rock her to sleep. But I've never actually tried it properly. What are the rules and does it actually work??? I know all babies are different but I am desperate to get her out of this 'waking for a bottle' routine. I'll try anything. I'm planning to start on Friday night when I'm not working so am willing to put the commitment in! Also going to extend bedtime from 6:30pm bath and 7:00pm bed by half an hour to see if that helps in any way! Any more help would be greatly appreciated 😊 Xxx

[amysmummy12345]

Could you offer water instead of milk?

[Mumzypopz]

My thoughts exactly. They stop waking up for water. Did it with my DD at 12 wks. Three days later she slept through.

[lcoc2015]

I third the water idea you can try straight to water or very gradually start watering down her milk. We did controlled crying with ours. Basically if they wake up crying go in after 2 mins comfort them without lidting them out of their cot and leave again, then 4 mins then 6 mins etc. Mine did cry but more of a i'm missing out on stuff cry than a hysterical cry....

[MatildasMumma2410]

I could try this 😊 thanks guys. But knowing my dd she'll get angry and cry some more. She could surprise me completely though so I'll remain optimistic 👍🏻 x

[MonkeyBrainsInPickle]

We had this. We gradually watered down the milk and she stopped waking up. Worth trying first I think.

[LittleSausageFingers]

Definitely try water, worked a treat with our girl when she was 11 months and was waking for milk 3-7 times a night. I gave her water, a cuddle and a dummy. Put her back in the cot when she was calm and sat next to it until she went back to sleep. Took a little while the first night, but she wasn't upset. By third night she didn't cry for milk. Now if she ever wakes (rare) I repeat water, cuddle, dummy, and she goes back to sleep very quickly.

[MatildasMumma2410]

Thank you everyone. Last night she was really agitated and woke up a few times. She settled herself a couple of times and we had to go in with milk a couple of times. Blaming that on her conjunctivitis though which has cleared up more today with prescribed drops. I'm watering down her milk for the next couple of nights (half and half) then I'll try just water. Also extended her bedtime from 7:00 to 7:30 with a longer wind down of 'Peppa Pig' 😊 Thanks in advance! Fingers crossed xox