Milk for 12 months

[bramble16]

DS has never slept through the night 😴 he regularly has two or three bottles (up to 450ml) at night even though he's drinking three during the day (on waking, morning and bedtime). He eats so much during the day (three meals and two snacks), there's no way I can get him to eat more.
We've tried offering smaller bottles at night or water but they just cause him to scream until he gets milk. Any suggestions? Dp and I have resorted to taking alternate nights in the spare room next to DS so we can function at work but it would be lovely to sleep together again 😄 HV said at his 10 mth review they recommend 1pint of milk a day by 12 mths - he's having double that!!! Any suggestions welcome!!

[dementedpixie]

It's only 300mls from 1 year that's required! Sounds like habit and the sucking action that they need rather than the milk. How often is he waking for them in the night? You may have to persist with the screaming as I wouldn't be offering 3 bottles of milk in the night.

[bramble16]

He wakes two to three times a night and the only thing we can do is give milk. That said, we probably haven't tried too hard recently as it's easier to give a bottle than deal with crying. I may try water again tonight to see what he does then try to go cold turkey tomorrow (easier with work demands than today). Not sure I can cope with screaming so dp said he will help. Really hope it works as we can't go on like this.

[bramble16]

dementedpixie thanks for your advice, we haven't been offering milk unless nothing else will stop him screaming and have gone to one small bottle already. Not quite there but a massive improvement. I think we had also got into the habit of giving milk as it stopped the crying straight away.

[thenewaveragebear1983]

No idea about the night waking but fwiw my ds always drank far more than the recommended amount of milk, even once weaned onto 3 meals he would have 5 8oz bottles a day at least and wasn't over weight. I'd be more worried about his teeth if he's drinking in the night, ds only drank during the day. I think unfortunately op you might have to go cold Turkey, or set a time when you will allow milk (eg 2 am the first nightand gradually move the time later and later.) Like with most night waking you'll likely find that this is a habit that is able to be unlearned but it takes iron willpower.