1 year old still waking for milk during the night.

[LavenderBlue95]

My 12 month old is still waking for a bottle of milk 3/4 times a night. I’m certain it’s a comfort thing but we’ve tried everything to wean him off. He won’t take the bottle if its water or even very watered down milk. He then gets so worked up he won’t settle at all.

He eats well in the day. I thought it was hunger so we started to give weetabix as supper so he definitely can’t still be hungry!! I know it must be that he can’t self settle. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong

He doesn't need milk in the night and he shouldn't be having it. He needs more food during the day. It's thought as well, that bottles should be ditched at the age of 12 months. This is mainly because of their teeth.

You've arrived in a situation that is causing you and him a problem. You all need a better night's sleep and he needs to be having less milk, more food and not bottle.

I'm really sorry to tell you that there isn't an easy answer. Every time you give him a bottle of milk in the night, you are perpetuating the habit.

I'm afraid that the answer is cold turkey. This will result in lots of crying and upset but fortunately it's over quite quickly. If you're going to do it, you have to support each other and you have to stick with it. You will actually feel much more upset than your child does but remember you're doing the right thing.

I agree with pp. Just stop it cold turkey. Do it when you both have a few days off so you can give each other breaks to rest during the day in case of bad nights. And tell the child before going to bed that he can’t have milk at night anymore

Could you try weaning your DC off the bottle first? Start giving him a sippy cup. Which I think is recommended anyway from 12 months. He might be having a bottle as a comfort thing so once he gets use to the sippy cup and less reliant on his bottle he might not wake for 'the comfort.'

Thank you for your replies.

I recently weaned him off breastfeeding in the night but he has been combi fed since 6 months so has taken a bottle.

He isn't great at drinking other ways. He does take sips from a cup but only a couple. I've tried all sorts of beakers, straw bottles etc but he just won't take to anything.

We will just have to go cold turkey at the weekend. I know it's going to be hard but I do think he needs to learn to settle himself now. Thanks again

Good luck with it, it's hard but worth it. Do stick with it, because if you give in it will only make it worse next time.

Hey I’m sorry for a random reply but I’m going through the same thing now 😰 how did you cope with cold turkey? Xx

So we didn’t keep to it. He was getting too upset. Not long after we loved him to a proper bed and because he was sleeping better, he stopped waking up for milk. Just waited until he was ready. Too many people have opinions on what a baby should or shouldn’t be doing. They all do things in their own time 💕

I still wake up in the night for a drink so does my 3 yo.

We did have curtail my daughter drinking overnight and it triggers her reflux. This was particularly apparent when she was about 13 months when she went from having 5oz a night to 25oz and desperate for more. We had her meds reviewed and we're strict with her and slowly got her down to 2 bottles of 5 Oz and then dropped half an Oz by half an Oz and got her down to 2 Oz once or twice a night and she was happier to have this amount than she was the 25oz. She had a lidded beaker from 18 months until 3 just to reduce spillages but she now has an open cup and probably 2-3 nights a week.

Think about where you would like to get to and how to get their gradually. Changes don't have to be immediate

Thanks both! That’s really helpful. Definitely right saying that babies will do things when they’re ready - what you do has to work for all ❤️

Googling and found this thread! @Aurora130 what worked for you in the end?? Glad to see OPs night feeds finally stopped. I’m having the same issue as well x

Hey well tbh my DD still wakes in the night but as she’s older now she just gives herself the bottle. I don’t put much milk in the bottle and she usually falls back to sleep quickly so it’s not much of a hassle tbh. I keep reminding myself that it’s not forever. sorry I can’t be of much help! Xx

@charlotteeeeeeq my baby was 16 months when he finally gave up the night feeds (breastfed). He did it all on his own, wish i had not stressed until then. Every baby is different, many are not ready at 12 months.

Aww no worries thanks for getting back to me. I’m glad it’s less of a hassle 🥰

yeah you’re right, I probably need to accept it more. I have twins and the other has other sleep issues so I’m struggling a bit, hopefully will get there sooner rather than later hahah x