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Original poster

20 month old screaming for milk at night

15 replies

argylesocks · 31/01/2013 16:18

DS has never been a good sleeper but things seem to be getting worse.

We stopped giving him milk at night about 4 months ago but lately he's been waking up hysterically crying for milk. Last night he started screaming for milk at 5am and didn't let up until 7 when I got him up for the day.

It's not me he wants.. I went in, cuddled him and even took him into bed with me and it didn't help so it's not comfort.

Im not giving in and giving him milk in the middle of the night so what do I do if he keeps this up every night?

We're not just being mean - he has reflux and it's bad for his stomach to have milk and lie down.

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Original poster
argylesocks · 31/01/2013 16:19

Oh and I've tried giving him water instead but he won't have it.

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Hiddenbiscuits · 31/01/2013 17:17

No advice just sympathy, we have just started night weaning from milk at 24 months and its not going well i dread bedtime!

clickingtock · 31/01/2013 18:11

Sounds tough. I think you are doing the right thing by sticking to your routine and letting him cry it out, but it's upsetting for you. Good luck! Thanks

TheMightyLois · 31/01/2013 18:21

Some babies just get up early. If he's hungry at 5am, then just feed a small amount to keep him going until breakfast/milk

What time does he have his tea?

Original poster
argylesocks · 01/02/2013 06:11

Thanks for the replies. He usually eats at 6 or 6:30 and is in bed before 8. I've thought he might be hungry but I'm afraid of him wanting milk whenever he wakes up because that's what we're trying to stop.

How do I tell him he can have milk at 5am if he's hungry but not at 2am just because he's awake?

Funny, we were so worried about weaning him off the bottle to go to sleep but he took to it right away and goes to sleep without a fuss.
He just doesn't stay asleep!!

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Rockchick1984 · 01/02/2013 09:03

How about giving him supper before putting him to bed eg a bowl of porridge or something? My DS was a nightmare to wean off night feeds but now only asks for milk through the night if there's a reason (either teething as he likes it for comfort, or hungry if he's not eaten a lot the day before) so we just let him have it - although we don't have reflux to contend with!

TheMightyLois · 01/02/2013 09:37

If you gave him milk would he go back to sleep? If he does then tbh it's worth it. We didn't do this - we were so worried about DS wanting night feed again that we insisted that he had nothing until 6am and then just got up.

We ended up with a child who wanted to get up for the day at 4:30am for an entire summer

When does he eat/have milk in the run up to bedtime? We found that a snack at 4pm, then dinner at 5:30pm then a huge bottle of milk at bedtime helped a bit, as did shovelling loads of food into him during the day.

It will pass :)

TheMightyLois · 01/02/2013 09:38

Just seen that you've weaned him off the bottle to go to sleep - does he have milk before bed still?

samarcanda · 01/02/2013 15:29

My 22 months boy would not spend the night without eating, he s so hungry even if he has a big dinner. We give him porridge during bed time routine, then bottle of milk, then brush teeth and he sleeps fine until around 4/5 am when he does not settle if doesn't have another bottle.... Which I m happy to give so we all sleep through to 8 am ... The reflux is the issue, my boy had it but grew out of it...to be honest I kept on give him milk but put him to sleep on a pillow....maybe u can try a snack like a banana or put some rice powder to make milk denser?

Original poster
argylesocks · 02/02/2013 04:13

honestly, I don't know what to do since his doctor told us not to give him anything besides water for 2 hours before he goes to bed because it makes his reflux so much worse. It's bad for him to lie flat with a full stomach.

We usually don't make it quite that long and he has a bottle of milk about an hour before he goes to bed.

I'll try an extra snack though and see if that helps.

He slept through last night, which is the first time in weeks. He ate more than usual so maybe that's why.

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TheMightyLois · 02/02/2013 10:21

Even my 5yo wouldn't sleep through if he had nothing but water 2 hours before bed! No wonder he's waking up hungry.

If he has reflux shouldnt he be on meds?

Goldenbear · 02/02/2013 21:14

My DD had severe reflux and is 21 months now- the GP didn't say anything about not giving her food before bed. My DD has slept through the night for the last 3 nights, the only change being supper. I have given her a crumpet, half a bagel and crumpet again on those three nights about 7.45 and then milk, she has slept until 6.15 without sleep training. It might be a coincidence but I'm carrying on with supper- would this help?

Original poster
argylesocks · 03/02/2013 04:14

yes, he is on two different medications for reflux and is having surgery in the spring.

He went 4 months without crying for milk at night and just started this about two weeks ago. Before, when he woke up he would go back to sleep after a hug or a sip of water. If it's hunger maybe he's having a growth spurt. I didn't think that's what it was since it just started but it makes sense. thank you for the suggestions.

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AbbyCat · 03/02/2013 05:30

We stopped bottles altogether and over a couple of nights it made a huge difference. We offer milk if he asks for it, but only in a cup and he has to sit up for it. And he doesn't want to! What he wants is the comfort of a bottle!

AbbyCat · 03/02/2013 05:31

He now sleeps through after 1w of cutting out bottles.

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