15month old waking in the night for milk still

[beaveringaways]

DS used to sleep through from about 6 months they had a run of colds and around 12 months old started waking in the night again. He eats plenty in the day, nursery often say he's had seconds then I give him almost a full second dinner when he gets home at 6pm, bedtime is 7pm with a 240ml of formula. Every night he'll wake at least once or twice for milk, if we try rubbing his back or cuddling it seems to wake him even more and he becomes hysterical until he gets his milk (warm and in a bottle). Have tried watering it down he refused to drink it and screamed until he got proper milk - we give cows milk during the night as we'd hoped formula before bed might fill him more. I need advice as to how to break this habit! TIA

I'd suggest go cold turkey and no more bottles in the night. My 17 month old was the same and I felt bad at how hysterical he would get and to be honest in the night I just wanted to go back to sleep so I'd give in. Well it's not until we noticed he began getting tooth decay!!! I was so upset as I try to take care of his teeth and he doesn't eat sweets etc. Dentist said it was from having a bottle in the night and the milk sitting on his teeth for hours. So that night I said no more bottles in the middle of the night and I stuck to it. I made sure he had enough to eat in the day and he got his last bottle before bed. He cried for about 4 nights and after that he just stopped waking up. Now sleeps through the night until 8am! I'm so happy I did this and wish I would've done it sooner. It will be tough for a few days but he will realise that he's not getting milk anymore in the night and I guess accept it. I read online it's a habit too, so to stop it soon as. Hope this helps. XX

Cold turkey or gradually dilute. Incidentally he should be having no bottle s day or night so there is your first challenge. If you have the energy throw them away. The dental decay is a real risk. He is just in a very bad habit.

@Confusedbeetle another reason why I was so upset my ds has tooth decay. He began drinking from a straw cup at 12 months and I threw the bottles out to prevent teeth problems. :( drinking milk in the night apparently is terrible for their teeth. I wish I would've never done it.

Thanks ladies! Never realised about the tooth decay either! I've got the next 4 days off work so cold turkey it is then!

45 mins of crying done and he's back to sleep, I did pop in a few times with the intervals getting longer to quickly reassure him and I did have a little cry while standing outside his bedroom door listening to him quietly sobbing to himself but he's properly back to sleep now, fingers crossed we make it through till at least 6am now...

Ahh well done OP! You'll be glad you did it in a few days!