How do get 1 year old off bottles when he wakes up twice a night.

[kingstonhat]

I have a 13 month and his dentist has said he shouldn’t be having milk in bottles anymore especially at night.

Thats all good and well but he wakes up at 12 and 3am screaming for a bottle.
I tried offering him some water instead from a sippy cup as his dentist suggested but he didn’t want that and relentlessly screamed.
Is it just that he’s not ready? Or should I persist?
How have others done this?

You could try water in the bottle instead of milk?

If he's eating enough during the day he shouldn't need two bottles overnight. Unless he has medical concerns his digestive system should be sufficiently developed to get through the night.

Does he eat well during the day? If yes, he's likely drinking the milk for comfort and not because he's hungry, in which case you can find another way to comfort him when he wakes.

If he's not eating well during the day, try and solve this problem first and that should solve the night waking.

Of course he relentlessly screamed. He didn't want water in a sippy cup, he wanted milk in a bottle.
Now it's up to you what you provide him with (water in a bottle would be a good start as pp suggested).

Assuming he's eating enough during the day?

Water in a bottle worked a treat for my. Daughter soon learned it wasn’t worth waking up for!!

This.

Milk in sippy cups starting in the day. Water in bottles at night or reduce the quantity slowly until there is virtually nothing in them.

2 weetabix before bed!

I wouldn't worry as long as they're not sleeping with the bottle and just drink and you take it away.
Brush teeth thoroughly at waking.
Also try a healthy snack before bed.
My dc drank from a bottle until 3y4m.
No dental issues at all.

We were also on 2 bottles a night until he was 11 months old, as he was late to wean. We reduced it gradually - target one feed at a time (first of the night usually easier, as their sleep pressure is higher) and knock off an ounce every couple of nights, and then just water from a bottle. I think we would have had more of a battle if we'd try to do it cold turkey, but I was amazed at how well he took this method. Started sleeping through for the first time ever.

This, or porridge.

Also agree with milk in sippy cups during the day and water in bottles at night. He'll soon learn it's not worth waking up for.
It's hard to hear them scream and cry in the night but it won't take long.
Comfort him in a different way, such as hand him a soft cuddly toy. Don't make a fuss, no lights on and speak minimally to him so he learns it's not worth it.

This. The dentist's own kids probably do everything the dentist tells everyone not to do. My three-year-old twins enjoy a bottle before bed and a boob feed overnight if they wake. The dentist, and the HV before her, were none the wiser. Your kid is one-years-old, a mere baby. I would nod and grimace and ignore such advice. You do what works for you and your family. Their needs change very quickly.

My ds had warm milk/formula every night before bed till he was 2 an half, did migrate from bottle to sippi cups in stages. Had milk in a breakfast porridge or similar for breakfast, seemed to work and would not wake in night. Refused milk carton at nursery as didn't like it cold. Every little one is different, what time do you put ds down for the night? Does he have own bedroom or still in yours, maybe that an issue?

He needs to eat more during the day so that he’s not waking up hungry at night.

Water in the bottle and perseverance!!

Its fucking awful, you'll feel awful, but it will get better!!

Best of British!! You got this!!

Not to mention still growing.
I understand the need to sleep and it gets exhausting to be woken, but there seems to be an obsession with getting dc to sleep through the night when they do it in their own time.

You let him scream. Sit next to the cot, pat or pick up. It may take a couple weeks before he realises bottles are not happening.

Formula needs to stop at night as pools in the mouth and causes tooth decay. Breast milk doesnt have the same issue

I would think he’s hungry. Can you give baby porridge before bed.

I started to water down the nighttime milk bottles. A couple of nights at a certain amount watered down, then watered down a bit more. There was no screaming, just a slow adaptation to the fact that it wasn't worth waking up for anymore.

If he's not hungry, you find a different way of comforting him during the night such as cuddles etc and he'll soon get the message of no more bottles.

This. Some of the replies on here are brutal. Their poor kids.

I've had this situation with both my children.

1st was 13months when I took it away (was pregnant and couldn't cope with the night feeds anymore).

2nd was 16 months, in the end I just got sick of the night feeds and knew it was overdue for the bottle to go.

First I diluted the milk so they gradually got less calories at night so when I took it away they wouldn't actually be hungry.

Then I took it away cold turkey. I co-slept so was at least with them when they didn't understand why they weren't getting a bottle but they obviously hated it and screamed but eventually realised no milk was coming and went back to sleep. After 2 nights they both slept through. I never seemed to find a gradual approach that worked, it just seemed to confused them and upset them more so cold turkey was less painful for everyone.

Water and a cuddle and be consistent.

I would dilute the milk gradually until it’s basically water. At the same time increase food/milk in the day. That way you know he’s not relying on the night feeds for calories.

Then would try swapping to a leakproof sippy cup like a Munchkin cup, you could leave it in the cot after a while and he can hopefully help himself.

If he's on 3 meals and 2 snacks a day, he likely does not need those bottles at night .

Is he having bottles in the day? If so, start with no bottles in the day. A bit of milk from sippy cup only.