2 year old early waking since dropping bedtime milk

[cinnamongirl1976]

Hi, hoping someone can give me some insight!

My DD used to wake up around 5am. This lasted about a year and was shattering. Then, towards the end of last year, she started sleeping later, until 7ish. I felt so much more human!

This week I have tried to get her off the bottle of milk she has before bed - mainly because I was also breastfeeding (she was combination fed from a very young age). I had intended to stop the breastfeed and keep the bottle for a bit before transitioning to a cup. But when I tried offering just a bottle, she cried for my milk too, real tears, trying to get in my top etc. Too upsetting so I tried cups this week instead.

She has refused to try them, though. I've tried 3 so far and she just says she doesn't like it and refuses to have the cup anywhere near her mouth!

I wouldn't really be that bothered and I would just persist, but she's started waking at 5am again and I really can't go back to that. I'm thinking of going back to the bottle again for a little bit. I know it's probably a bad idea but I just can't bear the return of early waking and I can't help but think it's related to not having milk - especially when she goes to a childminder for part of the week and I don't think she eats as much there...I know 2 is quite late to be having a bottle but was she just not ready?

(Not concerned about teeth because we clean them after her milk, and not concerned about speech because it is already quite advanced for her age.)

my ds was the same, i resorted in to giving him 'supper' before bed, usually wheetabix with milk

its a habit he continued and even when he was 20 was still having a wheetabix or 6 at 'supper' time!

Another one here who gives supper. Usually an Oats so Simple or two weetabix.

We also have a Gro clock so dd knows its only morning time once the clock shows a yellow sun.

Thanks. I did wonder about supper; maybe I will try that. Last night when she came back from the childminder she had grapes, banana pancakes (quite healthy, no sugar added) and a slice of toast! She does eat quite a lot of food, though, and loves breakfast-type things. Also on 98th percentile last time I checked (which was a long time ago) so was a bit worried about over-feeding.

I have a Gro Clock but haven't worked out how to set it yet! She woke up just after 5am but it was 7am when I went in and got her because she seemed happy enough and I certainly didn't want to make the habit worse!

I am also wondering if reverting to the bottle just for a few more weeks would do any harm...