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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Tweaking 16m bedtime routine without undoing all my hard work

9 replies

EmmieA · 18/04/2012 19:59

DS1 is 16 months but I know I need to adjust his bedtime routine but how??? He has a beaker of milk in the morning, cups of water in the day but still has a bottle of milk before bed. I know I should change this to a cup but am worried the peaceful bedtime routine will get disturbed (it's been perfect since 6 months). Currently he has a biscuit 5.30pm, bath/brush teeth at 6pm ish, into sleeping bag and drinks his own bottle then into cot and falls asleep, all done for about 6.30ish, and sleeps for 12 hours. I have started to read him a story while he has his bottle but how do I get his routine to what it should be which I think means milk (in cup) with his biscuit so I do his teeth after in the bath. Am i right in thinking just remove the milk, keep the story and hope he doesn't object? Usually so confident in these sorts of things but the thought of disturbed sleep (that isn't just teething) terrifies me. Thanks all.

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LeoTheLateBloomer · 18/04/2012 20:07

There are two points I would make here:

Try not to over think it. DD has adjusted brilliantly to any changes and just accepts it. (I think it's actually a really good idea not to be too strict with routines because you never know when something's going to crop up and throw everything. Having a flexible child is really helpful in those situations.) I very often give her her milk in the bath before brushing her teeth and she's just as happy with that as she is having it with a story.

DD is 2 next week and still has her milk in a bottle. It's a comfort thing. She has beakers for water during the day, but at night she just likes to have a bottle. I'm not losing any sleep over it (although I know many would). Try him with a cup. If it works great, if not don't panic. Milk in a bottle is something they just sometimes like to cling onto.

BTW, why do you think you need to adjust his routine?

Original poster

EmmieA · 18/04/2012 20:19

I am prone to over-thinking Leo and to be fair to my little man, he is very adaptable. I just read loads about how should wean off bottles at 12 months as bad for teeth and fact should brush his teeth after milk. But then some dentists say milk is good for their teeth. Think I will ask mine and see what he says.

OP posts:

Spookey80 · 18/04/2012 20:21

I really wouldn't worry about it too much. I know the hv advice is to stop bottles, but it won't hurt really, IMO, anyway.
It's strange with little ones, you will find that it will change itself at some point, when they are ready.
But I bet if you were to start giving the milk in a cup, you're little one would prob not make a it thing of it. Children are very adaptable.

HappyJoyful · 18/04/2012 20:47

Coincidentally this subject has just arisen in conversation with my DH as whilst dd 16mo has cup all day and possibly a bottle of milk at some point if she is sleepy or fretful BUT, I was just saying I am NOT changing the nightime, nice simple routine, bottle and tucked up in cot by 7pm- nope, no way!! She can have a bottle for as long as she like's if, like you it means a nice relaxed evening and nights sleep for us. I can't see how it can be 'damaging' no, no- don't worry about it, don't over think and enjoy your evenings/nights sleep- Well thats what I'm doing anyway!

5madthings · 18/04/2012 20:51

god dont worry about it, the only thing i would do differently is rather than brush teeth in the bath, do it after he has his bottle, that way you are protecting his teeth :)

two of mine bfed till they were over 3yrs of age and ds4 had a bottle before bed until her was 3yrs 5mths, i just made sure to brush his teeth after the bottle!

my dd is 16mths and has 3 bottles a day, 4oz in each one, one in morning when she wakes, one before her nap after lunch and one before bed, i just brush her teeth before bed.

Original poster

EmmieA · 18/04/2012 20:51

Thanks all, I knew I'd feel better after a quick post about it. Always trying to do the "right" thing is tiring, thanks all xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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Lexie1970 · 19/04/2012 21:48

My DS had a night time bottle until he was well over 3. It was just prt of his routine and during day he drank through beakers / straws etc and even drank from a normal cup as well.

I think HV and the like want you to wean off bottles for teeth and speech development which makes sense really.

When the teats split for bottles, that was the end of them so don't worry :)

An0therName · 19/04/2012 22:03

my D1 had a bottle until he was 2 - then one day we had left it somewhere and he had in a cup no problem - you will know when is a good time for your DS - DS2 2.2 still has a bottle at night - no other time - really should give his teeth a brush after his bottle but didn't with DS1 and his teeth are fine

flossymuldoon · 19/04/2012 22:14

My DS had a bottle both morning and night until he was about 22 months. I thought he would protest when i switched it one day but he didn't and was fine with it. He stopped wanting his milk at bedtime though and i was expecting him to start waking as he was hungry but he didn't. He started having 2 cups of milk in the morning instead.

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