11 months and still waking twice at night

[mandoo]

I know what I need to do. Leave my DS2 to cry. I did it with my DS1 at 9 months and within 4 nights of controlled crying he slept though. I just can't seem to get a grip and do it with my second baby. When he wakes I give him milk and he goes straight back to sleep, which I know is prob not helping. Any advice from anyone who can help is much needed.

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Maybe he's hungry then? If he wakes, you feed him, then he falls back asleep then problem solved? No?

My ds was the same, I kept hoping he would stop of his own accord, but he didn't. At 15 months I'd had enough; I couldn't have let him cry, so what I did instead was offer him a bottle of water instead of bfing him. He was furious of course and protested/cried for about an hour and a half, but he was in my arms the whole time, so I could cuddle and soothe him. The second night was the same story, but from then on he slept through.

Once he understood there was no more milk in the night, he gave up waking for it, I guess.

Good luck

Yes maybe he is hungry but really after three good meals plus morning and afternoon snacks should he still be hungry???

Well if he goes straight back to sleep afterwards then maybe he is? Or thirsty?

Sorry op, just re read your post. Why would you leave him to cry when a quick feed sorts it? Surely that's a quicker/quieter approach?

I don't think its a hunger thing I think its a habit thing really. SmallKindnesses suggestion of water and TLC might do the trick. Will try tonight-thanks

Ye maybe try some water. Least that rules out.thirst before you look at other options. Good luck

Thanks feekerry I think so too but I really need a full nights sleep 11 months on! I can't see him doing it without a gentle push in the right direction from me...will he still be waking at 18 for warm milk from Mummy!???

Let us know how you get on!

I think its habit too. You could also try to reduce the length of the feed gradually as I know my ds would go mad if water offered.

I would try every possible other option before leaving a baby to cry.

He goes mad if the milk not warm enough let alone if it is water instead. This could be interesting, really looking froward to what lays ahead!

LadyWidmerpool This is exactly why I posted this evening. I don't wan't to do the whole 'leaving to cry' thing. Your suggestions are welcome.......

Gradually reduce the amount of milk you give (is it formula - if so, reduce by an ounce every other night. Then after that you do CC. You shouldn't just go cold turkey on CC - Ferber himself says this).

Sorry I meant to add that usually what happens is baby stops waking up once the feed is down to a couple of ounces as they aren't really that hungry anymore.

Mine was very cross when given the water, which I took to mean he wasn't really thirsty. And if he'd really been hungry, I think he'd have kept waking up for more than two days.

There's a school of thought that thinks that babies don't naturally STTN until 2 ish.

Have you looked at the 'No Cry Sleep Solution'? It's got some lovely gentle ways to help a baby/toddler sleep through. CIO-esque methods needed.

Good luck, I'm interested to see what methods work for others, as my 9 month old wakes more than 10 times a night, despite being BLW and eating his own body weight in food plus snacks and boob/formula.

Hi Mandoo. We have the same problem with our DS, but he's 17mths old. He wakes once a night, almost every night, since the day he was born. Since he was about 12 mths old (I think), he's been on a 9oz bottle to go to bed about 7-7.30pm (although since he started walking about 2 mths back he won't nap during day n now goes to bed at 6pm). He has another 9oz bottle between midnight - 2am and another when he gets up at 7am.

We couldn't decide if it was a habitual thing or if he was hungry. We decided on a change of tactic. We give him a bottle on way home from Nursery (about 5.45pm) he then has another to go to bed on at 6pm ish. His middle of night feed, we've started leaving him until he cries and then we have started reducing his bottle by 1oz a week. So far, we are down to 5oz and we have some nights where he sleeps through and some nights he wakes up.

He will only ever take 5oz. I have tried to give him more at his bedtime feed but even if i fill it upto 6oz you can guarantee he will only take 5. Plan on looking at the site suggested by wewereherefirst so thanks for that.
He woke just half an hour ago but managed to avoid milk with just cuddles, not sure i will get away with it again. Will power on tho!