2.5yr old and milk during the night issue!

[Supercherry]

My pita adorable 2.5yr old DS has always had milk in the night to settle. It has got to the point where some nights he is waking up 3 times asking for milk.

I also have a 10mth old who also wakes 2 to 3 times a night. Needless to say I am exhausted and to be honest they are waking each other up and some nights it feels like I am taking it in turns settling one then the other. Like a little tag team designed to let mummy have a total of zero hours sleep.

I have always half heartedly tried to distract DS1 from the milk during the night and some nights he hasn't woke for it at all.

It is a habit that needs breaking. My mum encouraged me to get tough this week so for the past 3 nights I have refused to get DS1 milk during the night. I have explained to him that his last bottle is at bedtime.

The first night was OK, he only woke once and whined for about half hr before falling asleep. Last night he woke 3 times nd had tantrums. I find it relly hard to be patient during the night. Also I have neighbours and this must be disturbing them :( I have message my neighbour on FB and apologised and explained.

Please tell me I am doing the right thing :(

Anyone?

You are doing the right thing, he doesn't need milk in the night at 2.5 he is even big enough to understand. It will be hard for a few nights and hopefully you can all sleep better soon.
good luck

Thank you. I just needed to hear someone say it's not cruel. I know it sounds stupid but when you're sleep deprived and it's the middle of the night and your 2yr old is crying for milk it's hard to stay tough isn't it?

DD would do this if she thought she could get away with it, she's a real milk monster still. She uses her bottle as a comforter so when I go to bed I put some water in it and that's her lot. I know people would say she doesn't need a drink at all at night but I get very thirsty in the night so she probably does too.

No it is not cruel at 2.5 they will push you to the edge, they are just trying your boundaries, so be firm. If you are not consistant he will get confused (adn that is cruel). Now that you have started stick to it.
Like rockbird said may be he need a sippycup of water he can reach during the night?

He did ask for a drink at about 5am actually, I put water in a bottle. He said no a cup, so I put it in a sippy cup and he said 'no a cup'- meaning a cup without a lid. I said OK DS1 but you will have to sit up. I fetched a cup of water and he sais 'No, the blue cup'. Obviously I didn't pander to the final demand but do you know what ended up happening? He ended up spilling it all over himself.

you are def not being cruel! Night time is for sleeping!!! I would keep any interaction if he wakes in the night to a minimum so that he learns that this is not a good way to get attention!!!

Really, I would leave a sippy cup of water within reach and ignore all further requests. You're not being cruel, I sometimes fancy a bacon sandwich at 2am if I can't sleep but I don't get one! :o

Thanks :)

Last night was best one we've had in ages. DS1 only woke once because his blanket had fallen off. No requests for milk and slept from 7.15 to 7.30!

DS2 grizzled a little and woke twice for milk but still, a good night's sleep.

I went to bed at 8pm so I feel very rested.

Good! congratulations, may it last!